Migraines: Migraines may increase stroke risk

I have discovered a cure that starts within 30 minutes for migraine headaches.

That compelling comment comes from an HSI member named Michelle who sent her migraine therapy in a recent letter. Michelle writes: I juice up a bunch of celery and take 2 oz of juice whenever I feel a migraine coming on. Then I lay down and within 30 minutes my migraine starts going away most of the time.

If her migraine doesnt go away, step two in Michelles regimen calls for another helping of celery juice, this time doubled to four ounces. The result? I have never had to take a third dose.

Besides the fact that this natural treatment seems to work wonders for Michelle, her comments also serve as a sobering reminder of just how debilitating migraines can be. In her letter she mentions details such as having three migraines in four days, flashes of light in her field of vision, and one migraine so intense that she couldnt lie down.

People who have migraines like Michelles know only too well how challenging the condition is. To make matters worse, a recent study has confirmed an association between migraine and elevated stroke risk. And researchers found this risk to be considerably higher if a migraine patient happens to be taking a widely used drug.

Aura of risk
An international research team headed up by Royal Victoria and Vancouver Hospitals in Canada conducted a review of 14 individual studies to investigate a possible link between migraine and an increased risk of ischaemic stroke. This type of stroke is caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain.

As reported in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers assessed three cohort studies and 11 case-controlled studies. An analysis of the combined results indicated that patients with migraines are more than twice as likely to have an ischaemic stroke compared to people who dont get migraines. The risk is slightly higher for those who experience aura (such as Michelles flash of lights), and slightly lower for those who have migraines without aura.

More troubling was the finding that women with migraines who use oral contraceptives have a sharply increased risk of ischaemic stroke. Their risk may be as much as eight times greater than women without migraines.

One of the researchers - Dr Ali Samii - stated that the study clearly indicates that, migraine may be an independent risk factor for stroke. Dr. Samii notes that the reduced blood flow to the brain that accompanies migraines probably plays a role in triggering strokes.

Risk reduction
In previous e-alerts Ive told you about natural agents that have been shown to reduce the frequency of severe migraines. German researchers have demonstrated that a 400 mg daily dose of riboflavin (vitamin B-2) may cut migraine frequency in half and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was also shown to halve the frequency of migraines by promoting respiration in the powerhouses of the cell: the mitochondria.
Reduction in migraine frequency may not play a role in reducing ischaemic stroke risk, but it certainly couldnt hurt. And migraine patients might also get additional stroke protection by increasing their intake of folate and vitamin C.

In a past e-alert I told you about a Tulane University study in the US that showed how 300 mcg of folate per day may reduce stroke risk by as much as 20 percent. Also researchers in Finland concluded that people who have the highest intake of vitamin C are much less likely to experience a stroke compared to those who have low C intakes.

Reading the signs 
As Ive mentioned in previous e-alerts, its absolutely essential to quickly get medical attention at the first warning signs of a stroke. Quick action can reduce the long-term effects of the stroke and may even save the victims life.

In addition to migraines, other conditions that increase stroke risk include heart attack (especially if youre 75 or older), hypertension, diabetes, or peripheral vascular disease.

A stroke can sometimes be forming for several days before the first symptoms occur, so if you or a loved one is in a high-risk group, learn these warning signs of stroke and be prepared to act immediately if any of them appear:

 Weakness or numbness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
 Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
 Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
 Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
 Severe headache with no known cause

If you notice any of these signs, call for help immediately. Some stroke procedures can only be performed within the first hours after a stroke. In the event of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or mini stroke, the symptoms will pass quickly. But more than one-third of those who suffer a TIA will later have an ischaemic stroke.