A new study suggests that women experiencing both migraine and persistent hot flashes may face a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke. Published in the journal Menopause, this study is the first to explore the combined effects of migraine and hot flashes (referred to as vasomotor symptoms) on heart health, independent of traditional risk factors and estrogen use. Vasomotor symptoms occur due to changes in blood vessel activity.
The research indicates that women with both migraine and persistent vasomotor symptoms were 1.5 times more likely to develop heart disease and 1.7 times more likely to suffer a stroke compared to women without these symptoms.
Interestingly, women with a history of either migraine or persistent hot flashes did not show a significant increase in heart disease risk when traditional risk factors like tobacco use, lipid levels, blood pressure, and fasting glucose were taken into account.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, the medical director for The Menopause Society, emphasized the importance of considering female-specific factors like migraine and vasomotor symptoms when assessing cardiovascular risk in women.
"This study underscores the need to refine existing cardiovascular disease risk-prediction models to more accurately identify women at future risk. Meanwhile, optimizing risk factors is crucial for women experiencing both of these conditions," Dr. Faubion stated.
The study involved nearly 2,000 women, with data collection beginning between ages 18 to 30 and continuing until approximately age 61.
These findings are significant because both migraine and hot flashes are common occurrences. Hot flashes affect nearly 80% of women going through menopause, although the severity, frequency, age of onset, and accompanying symptoms can vary greatly. Migraines are also prevalent among women in the later reproductive years, impacting around 17.5% of women.
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