The Health Risks of Migraines During Pregnancy

There are many added health risks to being pregnant. Here we look at the association of migraines during pregnancy and the increased risk to you and your baby's health.
A recent study in the US has linked migraines during pregnancy with an increase in the risk of a stroke, in fact fifteen times more likely than non pregnant women. However, the British Medical Journal has also stated that the overall risk is actually low.
Data was collected from over thirty three thousand pregnant women who were also diagnosed with migraines.
Age was a determining factor, as women over the age of 40 were nearly two and a half times more likely to suffer from a migraine than women under the age of twenty. White women were also more likely to experience migraines during pregnancy than any other race or ethnicity.
Migraines have also been linked to a rise in the risk of heart disease, blood clots, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. They suggest it is possible that the migraine itself is an indication that the cardiovascular system is not working as well as it should be.
The authors suggest that the most logical explanation for the findings lies in the interaction between migraines and the normal physiological changes during pregnancy (such as increased blood volume and heart rate) which put extra stress on the vascular system.
Past research has indicated that the cells that form the inner wall of blood vessels (endothelial cells), may not operate as well in people who suffer from migraines during pregnancy.
Migraines, especially those linked with an aura or visual changes around the time of the headache, have been previously linked to stroke and heart disease in women. This study continues to validate the connection between the two.
Finding the right information on migraines during pregnancy will certainly help you to deal with any potential risks.
Maybe you are pregnant and suffering from migraines or maybe you suffer from migraines and are concerned about when you become pregnant