Migraine Sufferers May Have Double Stroke Risk

Researchers from Loyola University Medical center have proposed possible explanations for the various studies indicating strong correlation between migraine sufferers (with auras) and elevated risks of ischemic stroke. In the text Headache and Migraine Biology and Management, researchers propose that coincidental health factors may be relevant. Possible explanations include lower levels of certain cholesterol, higher c-reactive protein, genetic disposition, migraine medications linked to stroke and the theory that extreme levels of migraines may directly cause certain strokes on a vascular level. “Taking all of these possible explanations into account, the research may point to stroke and migraine sharing a reciprocal causal relationship,” the authors wrote. “There is a significant amount of research attempting to further elucidate this multifaceted relationship.” Future research will explore these proposed causes in greater detail to determine which are viable in treatment evaluation. To learn more about this study, click here.