Migraines can cause a stroke

Scientists warn that frequent and severe migraines in women may be a sign of a stroke. Such conclusions were made by specialists from the Harvard Medical School, who studied the health of more than 100 thousand women aged 25 to 42 in the course of a long-term study. Healthy women without cardiovascular pathologies took part in the research project; at the beginning, headaches were observed in every sixth subject. After 20 years of observing the health of women, specialists compiled statistical results, according to which 651 study participants suffered a stroke, and 652 - a heart attack. During the study, 223 patients died, whose bodies did not suffer a heart attack.

In this study, according to scientists, a clear link is traced between migraine and the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies, in particular, the probability of a heart attack increases by almost 40%, and the risk of developing a stroke by more than 60%. Also, experts noted that women who often have acute headaches are almost 40% more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, heart attack, etc.

It is worth noting that studies of this kind have already been conducted and scientists have assumed similar results, but no clear data on this issue has been provided by any research group. The results of the Harvard study are based on a larger number of patients and are distinguished by their duration, so they can clearly indicate a connection between frequent headaches and stroke in women.

Interestingly, women are more susceptible to migraines and depression than men, said Jennifer Kelly from the Center for Behavioral Medicine (Atlanta). In a recent study, the psychologist found that women are 2.5 times more likely than men to develop migraines and depressive disorders. Jennifer participated in compiling a report on the mental and physical health of the population from different countries (the report recorded data from 20 countries in total). While studying the data for the report, the psychologist found that women more often seek treatment for severe headaches or depressed mood.

Kelly's research was based on a sociological survey conducted in different countries, in which 40 thousand residents took part. Thus, in Great Britain about 16% of women suffer from severe headaches, half as many men, about 15% of women suffer from depression, and about 11% of men. In Portugal, according to the results of the same survey, almost 30% of women suffer from migraines, and almost 31% from depression. It was also found that people suffering from frequent and severe headaches usually also suffer from depression. According to Jennifer Kelly herself, systematic nervous tension and depressed mood can affect the frequency and severity of headaches in people, in order to get rid of attacks of severe headaches, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate external irritants that lead to stress.

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