Migraine with Aura and Cardiovascular Risk

This article written in February, 2005 caught my eye recently due to the fact that I was recently diagnosed with migraines with auras.  And then to hear that it also increases a person's risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease, really made me sit up and notice!  So I thought I'd pass another one of these news items along to the rest of you...Hugs, Teri

 

"Background: Migraine, particularly with aura, is a risk factor for early-onset ischemic stroke. The underlying mechanisms are unknown, but may in part be due to migraineurs having an increased risk profile for cardiovascular disease. In this study, the authors compare the cardiovascular risk profile of adult migraineurs to that of nonmigraineurs."

 

http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/4/614

Hi Teri, sorry to hear you are getting migraines with aura, they are miserable. I had them from the age of 12 (only a couple of times a year at this age) A couple of times a month from my early twenties. They eased with menopause at about fifty. The interesting thing is I read the article and saw it was recent research but I was told of this effect when I was in my twenties, the research had been done then! I wonder why they keep repeating the same things instead of spending the money on other undone research???? I am now seventy and have only recently been diagnosed with a fifty % blockage in one artery although I do have CHF. not caused by the CAD. Unfortunatly my daughter gets them too, it can be herediterary. I wish there was advice I could give you Teri to relieve them but there does not seem to be much that is effective. Sara tried the Imitrex but it did not help at all. Hope you do not get them too often...take care...Jay    

Wow!-thanks everyone.  I've been having these aura's and headaches since I had my stroke after my bypass in Aug.  I'd never had them before.  I also have epilepsy as well from the stroke.  The medication that he tried me on caused me to have a very nasty reaction, so now I'm almost afraid to try anything else-I see him (neuro Dr.) again in July.

 

Juliette, they can cause stroke!  That's why they are concerning. 

 

BeachJay, I'm so happy to see you here-it made my day!! Thanks! :)

 

Kathlyn, the aura's that I have almost feel as if I'm having a stroke-as a matter of fact, they are the symptoms (almost) of when I did have it.  I get left sided facial numbness and tingling, just the weirdest sensation.  Then within several hours I start with the headaches.  So far they aren't as bad as I've heard they can get-but what worries me is how many I've been getting.  Weekly.

 

You all take good care of yourselves and Jay, you may say your 70, but I think of you as a feisty 60 yr. old!! lol  That is a compliment!

 

Big Hugs, Teri

 

Hi Jay!

 

I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through these migraines from such an early age-and now, your daughter as well?!

The neuro Dr. said that the irregular brain waves are coming from the same exact area that the stroke was in, but unless they open your skull and put electrodes right on your brain, it's impossible to tell if it's the exact area!  I told him, that I'd pass on that diagnostic tool! He won't commit to what came first-he can't tell, says I may have had these before?  I dooon't think so?    I never really had a lot of headaches and certainly not with facial numbness and tingling.

 

Yeah, it's hot as heck here, Jay, but I am not complaining! lol

 

Hugs, Teri

Thanks for asking, Heidi!

I'm doing okay...but seem to get them frequently, I'm fortunate though, I've heard of others being very ill with them!

Big Hugs, Teri :)