While a neurological condition can be serious enough in itself, it can also be a sign of a serious health condition that some may not realize they have.

High blood pressure

Researchers in the Netherlands have discovered that migraines in women, but not men, are associated with high blood pressure, as people with hypertension are at least 16% more likely to have migraines as well.

The results of the study, published in the journal Neurology, suggested that migraines and blood pressure could be related because high blood pressure can reduce blood flow in small blood vessels. And it can reduce the supply of oxygen to brain cells and thereby lead to a migraine attack.

Stroke and heart attack

High blood pressure has also been linked to a myriad of other health conditions, including stroke and heart attack because high blood pressure can increase the risk of blood clots in the brain and damage to blood vessels.

The researchers said that their results did not show that all people with high blood pressure develop migraines, but that high blood pressure could be a potential trigger for the condition.

Measure blood pressure annually

While the team did not recommend that people with migraines get their blood pressure checked regularly, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) emphasizes getting it checked at least once a year for those over the age of 40, keeping in mind that a healthy blood pressure for most adults is about 120/80 mm Hg.

Risk factors in females

"Previous research has shown that migraines are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart disease and heart attack, but little is known about how risk factors for cardiovascular events are associated with migraine,"said Dr. Antoinette Maassen van den Brink, a pharmacologist at Erasmus Medical Center who led the research.

The study looked at known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes, smoking, obesity and high cholesterol, and concluded that there was an increased likelihood of migraine only in female participants with high diastolic blood pressure.

Do you suffer from migraine attacks.. You should check the level of 6 vitamins

Health

Do you suffer from migraine attacks.. You should check the level of 6 vitamins

Smoking and diabetes mellitus

The researchers also looked at how smoking and diabetes are related to migraines, finding that smokers have a 28% lower risk of developing migraines, and diabetics have a 26% lower risk.

"These results should be interpreted with caution, because they do not prove that smoking causes a lower risk of migraine," said Dr. Massin, explaining that "smoking can trigger migraine attacks, therefore, people who choose to smoke are less likely to get migraines".

Analgesic effect of nicotine

Previous research has suggested that nicotine in cigarettes can have a pain - relieving, or pain-relieving, effect-reducing the risk of migraines, while people with diabetes may take blood pressure-lowering drugs, which also reduces the risk. But in both cases the dilation of small blood vessels is reduced, or they are enlarged, which reduces blood flow and increases the risk of migraine.

If you get silent migraine accompanied by nausea and vomiting, a doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications. If you experience migraine often, a doctor may advise you to take preventive medications. These include: beta-blockers, such as propranolol or metoprolol