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Study: Migraines may result in higher risk of stroke

Category: General Health

Aside from experiencing severe discomfort, migraine sufferers may also be exposed to more than twice the risk of ischemic strokes than those who do not commonly get migraines, a new study indicates.

Researchers from John Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed medical records of 622,381 men and women in Europe and North America to reach their conclusions. The study found that those with migraines were 2.3 times more likely than patients without the severe headaches to suffer an ischemic stroke, HealthDay News reports.

For patients who experienced aura, or visual disturbances during their migraine episode, the risk was 2.5 times higher overall and 2.9 times higher in women.

Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke and occur when blood clots or plaque in the arteries cut blood supply to the brain.

"Identifying people at higher risk is crucial to preventing disabling strokes," the study's lead investigator Dr Saman Nazarian told the news source.

He added, "Based on this data, physicians should consider addressing stroke risk factors in patients with a history or signs of light flashes and blurry vision associated with severe headaches."

According to the Mayo Clinic, blood-thinning drugs and hormone replacement therapy can reduce the frequency of migraines.