Does migraine lead to stroke?
Not directly. There are several rare migraine variants that do have a greater risk of stroke, and there have been cases of people having a stroke during a complicated migraine. Statistically, stroke may be more common in people with a history of classic migraine, but this is not a risk factor we have any control over. People who have migraine should take extra care not to increase their risk by smoking, leaving high blood pressure and high cholesterol untreated, not exercising, and so forth. There are lots of reasons to treat migraines, and lots of reasons to practice a “stroke-smart” life-style.
