Migraine: A New Indicator of Cardiovascular Disease
Migraine, commonly misconceived as a severe headache, is a prevalent neurological condition that has spiked interest in the medical field in recent years. Approximately 15% of the world’s population suffer from migraines and their symptoms, such as pain on one side of the head, dizziness, numbness of the face and limbs, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines not only hinder one’s daily activities but also risk development of a cardiovascular disease, especially for female patients. Cardiovascular disease can present itself in various forms, but its underlying cause can be attributed to compromised blood vessels, which pathways are blocked by a plaque buildup that prevents regular blood flow. To better understand the connection between migraines and cardiovascular diseases, researchers from Aarhus University Hospital and Stanford University conducted nationwide research in Denmark for 19 years.
The research, which began in the year 1995, gathered its study cohort by accessing the medical records of Danish citizens in the Danish National Patient Registry. Analyzing the records of patients’ hospitalization and visits to outpatient clinics as well as emergency rooms, the researchers found 51,032 patients who were diagnosed with migraines within the span of their experiment and traced the progress of their health starting from the day of their first migraine diagnosis to the last day of the research in November 2013. During this 19 year period, every patient’s cardiovascular incidents—the type and frequency of these events—were recorded. In order to effectively analyze findings of the study and have a point of comparison, the researchers also incorporated a second cohort consisting of 510,320 separate members of the general population who did not suffer from migraines.
The research, which began in the year 1995, gathered its study cohort by accessing the medical records of Danish citizens in the Danish National Patient Registry. Analyzing the records of patients’ hospitalization and visits to outpatient clinics as well as emergency rooms, the researchers found 51,032 patients who were diagnosed with migraines within the span of their experiment and traced the progress of their health starting from the day of their first migraine diagnosis to the last day of the research in November 2013. During this 19 year period, every patient’s cardiovascular incidents—the type and frequency of these events—were recorded. In order to effectively analyze findings of the study and have a point of comparison, the researchers also incorporated a second cohort consisting of 510,320 separate members of the general population who did not suffer from migraines.
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Data accumulated over the 19 years showed that there were significantly more instances of cardiovascular events occurring to patients who were diagnosed with migraines than those from the general population. In particular, there were more frequent incidents of myocardial infarction (heart attack), strokes, venous thromboembolism (blood clot formation in vein), and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) among migraine patients, indicating a strong correlation between migraines and these specific types of cardiovascular problems. Consequently, researchers suggested that migraines should serve as an important indicator of an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Migraines should not be trivialized but rather taken into consideration as a predictor and risk factor for common heart and blood vessel related diseases. With more facts about migraines being uncovered in the scientific field, it is highly encouraged for people who often experience symptoms of migraines to seek medical assistance as more than half of migraine cases remain undiagnosed. Being aware of migraines can inform patients about further health issues that may arise in the future.
Migraines should not be trivialized but rather taken into consideration as a predictor and risk factor for common heart and blood vessel related diseases. With more facts about migraines being uncovered in the scientific field, it is highly encouraged for people who often experience symptoms of migraines to seek medical assistance as more than half of migraine cases remain undiagnosed. Being aware of migraines can inform patients about further health issues that may arise in the future.
Featured Image Source: geralt
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