Recent research indicates that women with migraine may be more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. Find out more.
New research presented at a recent meeting of the American Headache Society shows a possible link between cardiovascular disease and migraine. A large study found that women migraine sufferers were 1.52 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, including stroke or heart attack.
Here’s a look at the preliminary findings.
The Nurses’ Health Study
The new research was part of the Nurses’ Health Study, which has followed female nurses in the United States since 1989. This was a large study of more than 115,000 women that collected health information every two years for six years. The study, completed through questionnaires, had an excellent 90% response rate. In total, the health status of the women was followed for more than 20 years.
18% of women in the study reported experiencing migraines. The study also found that women who experience migraines were also more likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
It’s worth noting that the women who reported having a migraine diagnosis also had other factors that upped their risk of cardiovascular disease, like high body-mass index, a history of hypertension, and smoking.
The study also had several limitations, including the fact that migraine diagnoses was self-reported, which could lead to misclassification of migraine.*
