Stroke Risk
Women who experience aura, or sensory disturbances, before a migraine are at increased risk for stroke, according to Susan Hutchinson, MD, of the Women's Medical Group of Irvine, California and advisor to the American Headache Society. Those who have migraines without aura have a similar risk for stroke as those who do not have migraines---less than three strokes per 10,000 people, according to Hutchinson. For women who have migraine with aura, the risk of stroke rises to 11 strokes per 10,000 people. Oral contraceptive use further raises a woman's risk for stroke. When oral contraceptives are used by women who have migraine with aura, the risk of stroke jumps to 23 per 10,000 people, said Hutchinson.