Migraine and Stroke - Is There a Connection?

In this study of 113 people, average 34 years old, nearly half of the subjects who had migraine with aura also were born with an opening between two chambers of the heart. This condition, known as patent foramen ovale, is also a risk factor for stroke. The plot thickens.

According to a paper presented to the American Association for the Study of Headache last year by Gretchen Tietjen, M.D. of the Medical College of Ohio, the increased stroke risk from taking oral contraceptives is related to the amount of estrogen in the pills. You may have heard recently in the news that today's oral contraceptives have a lower dose of estrogen than those given prior to 1975. So, if you're on the birth control pill now, Tietjen doesn't believe your risk of stroke is increased by that fact.

Not all physicians are convinced that migraine has any connection with stroke, except that a person may experience a migraine-like headache when the stroke happens. Interestingly, that migraine-like attack doesn't have the other normal migraine symptoms, just the headache. This issue will continue to be debated. Meanwhile, you can reduce your risk of stroke dramatically by stopping smoking and keeping your blood pressure under control. Just keep the symptoms in mind, try to live a healthy lifestyle, and don't worry about it.

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