June 2, 2016.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Berlin in Germany, migraine increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in women.

Increased risk of stroke and heart attack

Would migraine be a harbinger of cardiovascular disease? This is what a study published in the medical journal suggests British Medical Journal. According to this work, migraine headaches increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or fatal cardiovascular disease by 50%.

To arrive at these results, the researchers analyzed the medical data of more than 110 women, aged 000 to 25, for 42 years. During this period, they were able to note that 12% of the people studied suffered from a diagnosed migraine and 15 cases of cardiovascular diseases were detected, including 1 fatal. Compared to women who did not suffer from headaches, migraine sufferers have seen their risk of having a heart attack increase by 39% and that of having a stroke by 62%.

Contested results

The results of this study, as serious as it is, are disputed by a number of scientists who highlight the difficulty of making a diagnosis in the event of migraine. It is estimated that 12% of people are affected by this problem in France.. But this figure is undoubtedly underestimated, as many patients do not go to a doctor for migraine. As a rule, women are more affected than men by migraine, because of hormonal influences.

« The risk of ischemic stroke in people with migraine remains low », says Dr. Teshamae Monteith, a neurologist at the University of Miami, who has previously worked on the subject. ” However, patients who suffer from migraines and have vascular risk factors should adhere to a lifestyle that lowers the risk of stroke, that is, exercise and eat a low fat diet. and rich in fruits and vegetables ».

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