Experts warn those suffering with headaches it could be sign of silent killer

26 July 2023 , 06:44

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Experts warn those suffering with headaches it could be sign of silent killer

Experts have warned millions who suffer severe headaches that they could be a sign of a silent killer. Those who regularly experience throbbing migraines on one side of the face might be at higher risk of an ischaemic stroke, according to a new study.

Led by Cecilia Hvitfeldt Fuglsang of Aarhus University in Denmark, the research found this was the same for both men and women. The NHS says the most common type of stroke happens when a blood clot stops blood and oxygen getting to the brain.

Clots form where the arteries have become narrowed or blocked by tiny fatty deposits, referred to as atherosclerosis. The study was published in journal PLOS Medicine.

It also found women are more at risk of heart attack or haemorrhagic stroke - also known as cerebral haemorrhages - which occur when a blood vessel inside the skull bursts and bleeds onto the brain. The main cause is high blood pressure.

Experts have warned migraines could be a sign of stroke or heart attack (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Aarhus University team looked at the medical records across Denmark between 1996 and 2018 of those aged 18 to 60. They found 179,680 women and 40,757 men diagnosed with migraines and looked at their risk of heart attack and different types of stroke before turning 60.

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This was compared to people who did not appear to have suffered with migraines, based on their prescription history. The scientists found men and women who had had migraines both had a "similarly increased risk of ischaemic stroke".

Fuglsang said: “Migraine was associated with a similarly increased risk of ischaemic stroke among young men and women. However, migraine may be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and haemorrhagic stroke only among women.”

The researchers also clarified they may have missed patients with migraines as they only used drug records to identify people for the study.

The team concluded that it is vital to identify those with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke so they can seek out preventative measures.

Ryan Merrifield