Migraine and heart: A reality check

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder affecting 12% of the global population. The common risk factors are adolescent age, genetics, and female sex, and are triggered by hormonal fluctuations, emotional stress, sensory overload, weather changes, alcohol consumption, fasting, cheese, chocolate, smoked fish, yeast extract, cured meats, artificial sweeteners, food preservatives containing nitrates and nitrites, and sleep disturbances. Migraine with aura is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events, such as myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and cardiac arrhythmias, and has recently been added to the QRISK3 cardiovascular disease prediction score. Population-based cohort studies have shown a significant association of migraine with aura and cardiac arrhythmias, most importantly atrial fibrillation. Patients suffering from migraine with aura are at an increased risk for cardiac arrhythmias; thus, it is essential to screen these patients for undiagnosed cardiovascular disorders.

Gout and Migraines: Exploring the Complex Link in a 16-Year Longitudinal Study of the Korean Population

“…The occurrence of migraines with or without aura may vary depending on the type of arthritis. Notably, a diagnosis of migraines with aura is limited due to its association with an increased risk of various comorbidities, including ischemic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, restless legs syndrome, and patent foramen ovale [ 16 , 35 , 36 ]. The influence of comorbidity in the occurrence of migraines without aura is significantly lower than in migraines with aura [ 35 ].…”

The Clinical Relevance of Artificial Intelligence in Migraine

“…A different application of AI is not related to the diagnosis of migraine itself but to the detection of its comorbidities. The relationship between migraine and a higher cardiovascular risk is long known, and it is particularly described for MwA [35]. One of the reasons may be found in the increased risk of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) that has been demonstrated in a large cohort of MwA patients with an AI-ECG algorithm [36].…”