Studies suggest specific stroke risk factors for younger women with migraines, particularly those with auras. Smoking, high blood pressure, and birth control pills considerably raise one's risk 10 – 20 times.
Researchers are also studying the relationship between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine. A PFO is a hole in the wall dividing the upper left and right heart chambers. About half of patients with PFO have severe migraines with aura. Researchers are investigating whether surgical repair of the PFO may help control migraines in patients with this heart condition.
Emotional Disorders and Quality of Life
The negative impact of migraines on quality of life, families, and even work productivity is significant and often underrated as a serious complication. Studies indicate that people with migraines have poorer social interactions and emotional health than patients with chronic medical illnesses, including asthma, diabetes, and arthritis. Anxiety (particularly panic disorders) and major depression are also strongly associated with migraines.
A 2005 National Headache Foundation-sponsored survey of migraine sufferers reported that:
- 90% of people with migraines could not function normally on the day of a migraine attack
- 80% experienced abnormal sensitivity to light and noise
- 75% experienced nausea and vomiting
- 30% required bed rest
- 25% missed at least 1 day of work due to migraine in past 3 months
Migraine and Pregnancy
Effect of Pregnancy on Migraines. In one study, pregnant women with tension or migraine headaches experienced 80% fewer headaches, usually after the end of the first trimester.
Effect of Migraine on the Pregnant Woman or Fetus. Migraine headaches do not pose any added risks during pregnancy to the mother or the fetus, although women with migraines may be at higher risk for having smaller (but not premature) babies.
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