Migraine does not increase the risk of strokes in postmenopausal women

Migraine with and without aura carries an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks, according to several large studies. Most migraine sufferers are young women and until now there have been no studies looking at postmenopausal women.

At the last annual scientific meeting of the American Headache Society, Dr. Pavlovic and her colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx presented data of their study of over 70,000 postmenopausal women who were followed annually for 22 years. Ten percent of them had a history of migraines (compared to 18% seen in surveys of all women). Surprisingly, those with a history of migraine did not have a higher risk for strokes or heart attacks.

This somewhat contradicts another study mentioned on this blog last year. Doctors in South Carolina established that people with migraine with aura who were 60 or older, were more likely to have atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat), a condition that increases the risk of strokes.

Despite some inconsistencies in various studies, the practical implications are that those with migraines (and those without) should try to control modifiable risk factors. These include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol. If atrial fibrillation is present, a blood thinner is usually indicated as it may prevent strokes. Control of modifiable risk factors includes not only medications, but also regular exercise, healthy diet, stress management, and good sleep habits.