- Women who suffer from migraines are much
more likely to have a stroke than those who do not, scientists have claimed.
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- Researchers from Imperial College School
of Medicine in London and the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford found young
women with a history of migraines are three-and-a-half times more likely
to have an ischaemic stroke.
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- An ischaemic stroke is caused by a lack
of blood to the brain due to constriction or blockage in a blood vessel.
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- Dr Limmie Change and colleagues studied
291 women aged between 20 and 44 who had suffered strokes.
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- They found that the risk is increased
further if they also smoke, have high blood pressure or use oral contraceptives.
A woman who suffers from migraine, smokes and takes oral contraceptives
is 35 times more likely to have a stroke.
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- The researchers, who cautioned that further
research was needed, found that between 20% and 40% of strokes in women
who had a history of migraines seemed to stem directly from a migraine
attack.
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- Writing in the British Medical Journal,
the researchers say: "The data presented here suggest that women who
have migraine should be advised strongly not to smoke, and that their blood
pressure should be carefully monitored and controlled."
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- The researchers also found that a family
history of migraine, regardless of personal migraine history, upped the
risk of not only an ischaemic stroke but also a haemorrhagic stroke, where
a burst blood vessel leads to a lack of blood to the brain.
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- Migraines are caused by a rapid widening
and narrowing of blood vessel walls in the brain and head.
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- Researcher Neil Poulter, of the cardiovascular
studies unit, Imperial College School of Medicine, said: "Presumably
a vaso-constriction - such as that associated with a migraine - in a blood
vessel that is already partially narrowed for whatever ever reason may
just cause a total blockage and lead to a stroke."
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- Professor Poulter said there was nothing
migraine sufferers could do to stop themselves suffering attacks, but they
could reduce their risk of stroke.
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- "They have got to look at other
factors in their life that they can do something about," he said.
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- "They should stop smoking, eat fruit
and vegetables and ensure that if they have high blood pressure then it
is under control."
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