Headache/Mirgrain/Stroke

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face. This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can be treated with medication, stress management and biofeedback.

When an ischemic stroke occurs along with a migraine headache, it is known as a migrainous stroke or migrainous infarction. Ischemic strokes occur when blood vessels to the brain are blocked, restricting blood flow.

Migraine headaches usually affect only one side of the head and often occur with nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light or sound. In some patients, the pain may switch sides each time a migraine occurs.

In migrainous strokes, the migraine must occur with aura. Aura is a set of symptoms preceding the migraine, such as flashes of light or tingling in the face or hands. Migrainous strokes are rare and account for only 0.8 percent of all strokes.

Migrainous strokes are rare and the connection between migraine and stroke is not yet fully understood. However, research has shown an increased risk of stroke in patients with a history of migraines with aura.
Women aged 45 and younger appear to be at a greater risk of migrainous strokes. Some possible reasons for this are hormonal changes and increased risk of blood clots due to hormonal birth control.

Patients who have a history of migraines with aura, or who have an increased risk of ischemic stroke, can lower their risk of through lifestyle changes such as:

• Regular exercise
• Managing diabetes
• Quitting smoking
• Lowering high cholesterol