Migraine, Pregancy and Cardiovascular diseases – more disturbing news
Research continues to be published about the link between migraine and cardiovascular disease. This one, published in the British Medical Journal, has to do with women who have migraine during pregnancy.
Many women experience a remission of migraine during pregnancy. However, many do not.
 |
The pretty name for it is peripartum migraines, and they can be very difficult to deal with. Although there are many treatments available for these migraine attacks, many women need to change their treatments during pregnancy to protect the baby.
The study found that women with migraine attacks during pregnancy were at a much higher risk of stroke (15 times). There was also 3x the risk of blood clots and double the risk of heart disease.
Now, it’s important to realize that these numbers aren’t quite as scary as they might seem at first. Stroke is very rare in pregnancy, so it’s still going to be rare even among migraineurs.
However, this is important for doctors and patients to know because, if you have other risk factors, this does increase your changes. Information like this can help you make informed decisions about risk when it comes to what medication to take or not take.
Migraine during pregnancy is not something your doctor should just brush off and tell you to deal with. It’s a serious aspect of your pregnancy that you need to take into consideration and deal with – with treatment, not by ignoring it and living with the pain.
30 November 2009 @ 2:23 am
Migraines during pregnancy are especially difficult because of the restricted range of allowable medication. In my experience, acupuncture can be a big help to people wit migraines and is good alternative to medication during pregnancy. It is of course important for women with migraines during pregnancy get regular blood tests to check for excessive clotting. Fresh ginger is excellent for such women as it both thins the blood, helps with morning sickness, and increases ditetary absorption of nutrients
2 December 2011 @ 3:04 pm
Increase in stroke risk, but I wonder also about increase in pre-eclampsia, which is another cardiovascular-related symptom? I had pre-e with both my children and was told this could be an indicator for higher stroke risks later on (though my blood pressure outside of pregnancy is normal.) Interestingly, I had worse migraines when pregnant with my daughter than my son, though my pre-eclampsia set in later with her, and I assumed it was extra hormones.