Migraine sufferers might have to worry about more than just dealing with debilitating headaches.

Migraine patients could also face an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and irregular heart rates, a new study suggests. The risk to heart health appears to be strongest in the first year after diagnosis of migraine, but persists for as long as two decades.

Migraine affects about 15 percent of people, mainly women, and was the second leading cause of years lost to disability in 2016, according to background information.

According to the researchers at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, for every 1,000 people:

  • 25 migraine patients had a heart attack, compared with 17 migraine-free people.
  • 45 migraine sufferers had a blood clot-related stroke versus 25 without the headache disorder.
  • 27 migraine patients developed life-threatening blood clots in their veins, compared with 18 people without migraines.
  • 47 people with migraine developed an irregular heartbeat, versus 34 migraine-free people.

Migraine patients who want to reduce their stroke risk should consider taking steps to lower their blood pressure, including exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

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