Migraines and Increased Risk of Heart Disease & Heart Attacks

WOMEN WHOSE MIGRAINES ARE PRECEDED BY VISUAL OR VERBAL DISTRUBANCES (AURAS) ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND HEART ATTACK -  JAMA 2006; 296, No. 3: 283-291. 

Women with migraines and no auras (by far the larger group) are not subjected to increased cardiovascular disease, heart attack and strokes…, but women who do experiences these auras need to decrease risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. I strongly suggest that women in this category consider supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are cardioprotective and have been shown to decrease the risk of sudden death due to carfiovascular events. I would also suggest eating a diet high in antioxidants (green and yellow vegetables, fruits) which can protect the arteries against oxidative damage. Reducing the number of auras and actual migraines that occur is certainly desirable.