 |
|
Research: Migraine and cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis
October 28, 2009Editorial: Migraine with aura and increased risk of ischemic stroke
Migraine with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke, finds a study published on bmj.com today. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker, and using oestrogen containing contraceptives.
The risk was highest among young women with migraine with aura who smoke and use oestrogen containing contraceptives.
Migraine is a common, chronic disorder that affects up to 20% of the population. Women are affected up to four times more often than men. Up to one third of sufferers also experience an aura prior to or during a migraine headache (often described as the perception of a strange light, an unpleasant smell or confusing thoughts or experiences).
Doctors have long suspected a connection between migraine and vascular events such as stroke. So to investigate this further, an international team of researchers analysed the results of nine studies on the association between any migraine (with and without aura) and cardiovascular disease. Differences in study design and quality were taken into account to minimise bias.
They show that migraine with aura is associated with a twofold increased risk of ischemic stroke. This risk is further increased by being female, age less than 45 years, smoking, and oestrogen containing contraceptive use.
There was no association between migraine and heart attack or death due to cardiovascular disease.
In light of these findings, the authors recommend that young women who have migraine with aura should be strongly advised to stop smoking, and methods of birth control other than oestrogen containing contraceptives should be considered. They also call for additional research to investigate the association between migraine and cardiovascular disease in more detail.
The absolute risk of stroke for most migraine patients is low, so a doubling of risk is not cause for panic, explains Elizabeth Loder from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, in an accompanying editorial. However, at a population level, this risk deserves attention because the prevalence of migraine is so high. She suggests that patients who have migraine with aura should be followed closely and treated aggressively for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Migraine is a common, chronic disorder that affects up to 20% of the population. Women are affected up to four times more often than men. Up to one third of sufferers also experience an aura prior to or during a migraine headache (often described as the perception of a strange light, an unpleasant smell or confusing thoughts or experiences).
Doctors have long suspected a connection between migraine and vascular events such as stroke. So to investigate this further, an international team of researchers analysed the results of nine studies on the association between any migraine (with and without aura) and cardiovascular disease. Differences in study design and quality were taken into account to minimise bias.
They show that migraine with aura is associated with a twofold increased risk of ischemic stroke. This risk is further increased by being female, age less than 45 years, smoking, and oestrogen containing contraceptive use.
There was no association between migraine and heart attack or death due to cardiovascular disease.
In light of these findings, the authors recommend that young women who have migraine with aura should be strongly advised to stop smoking, and methods of birth control other than oestrogen containing contraceptives should be considered. They also call for additional research to investigate the association between migraine and cardiovascular disease in more detail.
The absolute risk of stroke for most migraine patients is low, so a doubling of risk is not cause for panic, explains Elizabeth Loder from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, in an accompanying editorial. However, at a population level, this risk deserves attention because the prevalence of migraine is so high. She suggests that patients who have migraine with aura should be followed closely and treated aggressively for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Migraine Current Events and Migraine News RSSIncreased stroke risk from birth control pills
She was only 30 years old, but she was experiencing the classic symptoms of a stroke. Her speech suddenly became slurred, and her left hand became clumsy while eating.
Surgery potentially best option for severe migraine headaches
The disability from migraine headaches is an enormous health burden affecting over 30 million Americans.
Migraine sufferers more prone to hangover headache
Migraine sufferers, beware. You may be more prone to an alcohol-induced headache after a night of drinking, according to researchers from the Jefferson Headache Center. The research will be presented at Neuroscience 2009, the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, in Chicago.
Jefferson Headache Center study shows novel, orally inhaled migraine therapy effective
A new study conducted at the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shows an investigational, orally-inhaled therapy is effective in treating migraines.
Neck surgery for cervical spine disorders found to alleviate associated headaches
A new study published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) finds that two years after anterior cervical neck operations, patients who have arthroplasty (disc replacement) or arthodesis (spine fusion) can be expected to have significant improvement in their headache symptoms.
Got migraines?
Migraine headaches are a drain - not only on the estimated 30 million Americans who suffer from them, but on the economy, too.
Anti-epilepsy drug risk on cognitive function for unborn children
Interim results of a study being conducted by scientists at the University of Liverpool suggest that children aged three years and younger, who are born to women taking the anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate whilst pregnant, are likely to have an IQ of six to nine points lower than average.
Link between migraines and reduced breast cancer risk confirmed in follow-up study
The relationship between migraine headaches in women and a significant reduction in breast cancer risk has been confirmed in a follow-on study to landmark research published last year and conducted by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Learning from locusts
A similarity in brain disturbance between insects and people suffering from migraines, stroke and epilepsy points the way toward new drug therapies to address these conditions.
Smoking more than 5 cigarettes a day provokes migraine attacks
Tobacco acts as a precipitating factor for headaches, specifically migraines. This is indicated in a study which shows that smokers have more migraine attacks and that smoking more than five cigarettes a day triggers this headache.
More Migraine Current Events and Migraine News Articles
 |
Quantum - Migrelief, 60 tablets by Quantum Doctors and patients are finding MigreLief's triple therapy approach, used over a period of time, is an important tool for the prevention and reduction of severity. The triple stands for the three key ingredients; magnesium, feverfew and riboflavin. Dr. Alexander Mauskop, one of the world's leading migraine researchers and Director of the New York Headache Clinic has been working with his own triple therapy since 1992. His research has been crucial in establishing MigreLief's credentials as a superior product. Only MigreLief contains Puracol, a specially sourced whole herb feverfew with all of its naturally occurring elements intact and a high - parthenolide content. MigreLief uses specific forms of each ingredient, which is one reason it is so highly regarded. The quality of the... |
 |
Migraine by Oliver Sacks (Author) "Balanced, authoritative . . . brilliant." --The London Times "Written by one of the great clinical writers of the twentieth century, Migraine . . . should be read as much for its brilliant insights into the nature of our mental functioning as for its discussion of the migraine." --The New York Times Book Review The many manifestations of migraine can vary dramatically from one patient to another, even within the same patient at different times. Among the most compelling and perplexing of these symptoms are the strange visual hallucinations and distortions of space, time, and body image which migraineurs sometimes experience. Portrayals of these uncanny states have found their way into many works of art, from the heavenly visions of Hildegard von Bingen to... |
 |
MigreLief Migraine Dietary Supplement, 60 Tablets (Pack of 2) by MigreLief Doctors around the country are recommending MigreLief a patented, non-prescription dietary supplement that treats the underlying nutritional deficiencies that clinical studies show may play a role in reducing migraine frequency and severity |
 |
Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain by David Buchholz (Author), Stephen G. Reich M.D. (Foreword) Based on the breakthrough understanding that virtually all headaches are forms of migraine--because migraine is not a specific type of headache, but the built-in mechanism that causes headaches of all kinds, along with neck stiffness, sinus congestion, dizziness, and other problems--Dr. Buchholz's HEAL YOUR HEADACHE puts headache sufferers back in control of their lives with a simple, transforming program: Step 1: Avoid the "Quick Fix." Too often painkillers only make matters worse because of the crippling complication known as rebound. Step 2: Reduce Your Triggers. The crux of the program: a migraine diet that eliminates the foods that push headache sufferers over the top. Step 3: Raise Your Threshold. When diet and other lifestyle changes aren't enough, preventive... |
 |
WellPatch Cooling Headache Pads, Migraine, 4 - 2 x 5 1/8-Inch Pads (Pack of 6) by WellPatch Lasts up to 8 hours. Cooling Therapy for migraine and headache discomfort. Safe to use with medications. Great for both children and adults. Soft, comfortable, & easy to apply. Soothe the discomfort associated with migraine and headache wit Well Patch Migraine Cooling Headache Pads, a cooling therapy to supplement your regular treatment routine. Convenient and portable, Well Patch Migraine Cooling Headache Pads can be used at home, at work, traveling, or anywhere. Can be used for adults and children. Each soft, flexible pad stays comfortably in place. Cools immediately and lasts up to 8 hours. Doctors recommend cooling therapy. Well Patch Migraine Cooling Headache Pads are drug-free and safe to use with medications. Use Well Patch Migraine Cooling Headache Pads wherever you need it most.... |
 |
Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know by Teri Robert (Author) For millions of Americans, Migraine disease, tension headaches, and other headaches are a debilitating part of every day. Teri Robert has been there—in fact, she experienced her first Migraine at age six. Now, in this groundbreaking holistic guide to the diagnosis and treatment of headaches and Migraine disease, she brings a patient-empowering message to all headache sufferers: you don't have to live with daily pain. She provides you with all the information you need to know about getting the help you need, including: Understanding side effects Treatments for long-term relief Risks and symptoms Identification of the various types of headaches Traditional and alternative therapies Information on finding health care practitioners and support Numerous case studies and expert advice... |
 |
The Migraine Brain: Your Breakthrough Guide to Fewer Headaches, Better Health by Carolyn Bernstein (Author), Elaine McArdle (Author) You know that your migraine isn't just a headache. But you may not know that migraine actually is a neurological disease. Affecting one in five women, one in twenty men, and one in twenty children, it's a debilitating, complex, and chronic condition that manifests in a combination of symptoms that can include excruciating head pain as well as other distinctive physical and emotional effects. Yet it's also a disease that you can get control of, improve, and manage, as Dr. Carolyn Bernstein has discovered in her seventeen years as a Harvard Medical School faculty member and practicing neurologist. Praised for her excellence and compassion, the founder of the Women's Headache Center near Boston, and a migraine sufferer herself, Dr. Bernstein has helped hundreds of her patients get better.... |
 |
WellPatch Migraine, Cooling Headache Pads 4 ea by Mentholatum Co., Inc 4 Pads 2" x 5 1/8" (5 x 13cm) Cooling Therapy for Migraine |
 |
Migraines Be Gone: 7 Simple Steps to Eliminating Your Migraines Forever by Kelsie (Author), Kenefick (Author) This award winning book is a must-read migraine sufferers and health care practitioners who work with migraine patients. Unlike any other headache book, Migraines Be Gone teaches migraine sufferers how to overcome their migraines using a step-by-step approach to balancing the nervous system. Clinically proven safe and effective, anyone committed to eliminating their migraines naturally can master these seven simple steps. Praise for Migraines Be Gone... Endorsements Kelsie Kenefick's Migraines Be Gone is a wise, effective program that can help eliminate this scourge from one's life. It is based in good science and good medicine and will be a godsend to many. Larry Dossey, M.D., author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things, Healing Words, and chief... |
 |
Excedrine Migraine-Pain Reliever/Pain Aid, 300ct by Excedrin |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |