New study: Migraines increase the risk of heart attack and stroke

If a woman has migraine with aura and certain genetic predispositions are present, her risk of stroke and heart attack may be increased by a factor of two. Interestingly, having migraine with aura alone is not responsible for an increased risk of stroke unless a specific genetic predisposition is also present.

Prof. Göbel: Only about 10% of migraine patients suffer from migraine with aura; the vast majority (90%) experience migraine attacks without aura. Studies show that this latter large group does not have a greater risk of heart attack or stroke than the general population. However, the study results indicate that migraine with aura is a significant risk factor for developing a stroke or heart attack. Therefore, these patients in particular require targeted attention regarding the identification of risk factors and for effective treatment of migraine with aura.