Migraines in Smokers Linked to 3-Fold Risk of Stroke

Older migraine patients could have a heightened risk of stroke if they are smokers, according to a recent study.

The study included 1292 patients from the Northern Manhattan Study (mean age 68 years) who had migraines (75 with aura and 187 without aura).

After an average follow-up period of 11 years, 249 strokes, heart attacks, and mortalities had occurred.
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While no association between migraine with or without aura and the risk of stroke or heart attack was found, researchers did discover that in smokers, migraines were linked to a 3-fold increased risk of stroke compared to non-smokers.

The investigators noted that while they could not completely rule out the likelihood that stroke and migraines in smokers was purely due to chance, they concluded that the link is still consistent with other studies.

“While this investigation of migraine and vascular events in older people found that only smokers with migraine have an increased risk of stroke, earlier studies have shown that women younger than 45 who have migraine with aura are also at an increased risk of stroke, whether or not they smoke,” researchers concluded.

The complete study was published in the July issue of Neurology.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:
American Academy of Neurology. Can Migraine Increase Your Risk of Stroke? July 2015. www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1397. Accessed July 22, 2015.