Women with high blood pressure are at a greater risk of developing migraines.
A study published in the journal Neurology revealed that women with high blood pressure are at a higher risk of experiencing migraines.
While previous research has examined the relationship between migraines and cardiovascular diseases like strokes and heart attacks, there has been limited investigation into how cardiovascular health impacts the frequency and severity of migraines.
In response, a recent research team, supported by the Dutch Research Council, discovered a link between high blood pressure and the occurrence of migraines.
The team examined 7,266 men and women, with an average age of 67, to investigate the relationship between factors such as smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, and a history of cardiovascular disease and the occurrence of migraines. Approximately 15% of the participants had a history of migraines, either past or present. All participants underwent comprehensive blood tests and physical examinations.
After considering various risk factors and education levels, the team reported that women with high blood pressure, particularly those with elevated diastolic blood pressure, faced a 16% higher risk of developing migraines.
The study found no correlation between the cardiovascular history of male participants and migraines, nor did it identify any link between systolic blood pressure and migraine occurrences.
The researchers noted that while migraine occurrences are unrelated to systolic blood pressure, they are associated with diastolic pressure. They suggested that migraines may relate more to the constriction of small blood vessels rather than the deterioration of large blood vessels.
However, experts cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions from this study about the connection between increased diastolic blood pressure and migraines in women.
The study highlighted that, despite exploring the relationship between various cardiovascular risk factors and migraine occurrences, no significant link was found between traditional cardiovascular risk factors and migraines. This contrasts with previous research, which has suggested an association between migraines and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, leaving the exact relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and migraines still ambiguous.
Additionally, the absence of a correlation between hypertension and migraines in men might be due to the lower prevalence of migraines in men compared to women. This suggests that the association between hypertension and migraines could be weaker in men.
Meanwhile, if there is indeed a difference in the association between high blood pressure and migraines based on gender, experts suggested that hormones may have different effects on blood pressure regulation and migraine occurrence based on gender or that differences in lifestyle habits between genders may be the cause.
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