New research presented by the American Academy of Neurology this week suggests that women who present with migraine headaches have a much higher risk of cardiovascular complications than women who don’t suffer from migraines. The study involved 27,798 women (3 out of 4 migraine sufferers are women) who were followed for 12 years. The study suggests that women who experience frequent migraines are three times more likely to experience a stroke, and one-and-a-half times more likely to experience a heart attack. In fact, women who experience migraines just one time per month still have an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Researchers believe that the main cause of migraine headaches is the dilation and irritation of the arteries (vasculature) in the brain. The vasculature is regulated and controlled by the nervous system, specifically the nerves that exit the spine in the upper neck. Addressing pressure on these nerves from the spine (subluxations) can alleviate the occurrences of migraines. As someone who previously suffered from weekly migraines, chiropractic care has significantly reduced the number of migraines I experience. Considering the increase in fatal health conditions that migraines are now associated with, it is paramount for you or your loved ones who suffer from migraines to get checked by a chiropractor.