Migraine linked to risk of cardiovascular disease

People who suffer from migraine with blurred vision – known as aura – are twice as likely to have a stroke, according to new research.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that migraines with aura can be associated with a twofold increased risk of ischaemic stroke.

In addition to migraines, the report indicated that being less than 45-years old, a smoker and a woman using oral contraceptives can raise a person’s chances of developing the heart condition.

Tony Bloomfield, head of fundraising and communications at the Migraine Trust, said: "There is no cure for migraine. However [sufferers] may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks through the management of their condition."

Statistics from the trust show that migraine affects three times the number of women than men, while the incidence of stroke in men is twice that of their female counterparts.

However, there is no known medical link between haemorrhagic stroke, which involves damaged or weakened artery bleeds into nearby tissue, and migraine.

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