What is it about?
Migraine is increasingly being recognized as more than "just a headache". Pregnancy is a sensitive period where women are prone to blood clot formation. In this 94-million-pregnancy analysis, we associate migraine with a 10-fold increase in stroke and an over 2-fold rise in heart attacks.
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Why is it important?
Pregnant women with migraine will benefit from close clinical surveillance during pregnancy and the 6 weeks after delivery. Primary care providers should educate pregnant women with migraine about the signs of stroke (B.E. F.A.S.T.) and advise immediate referral if they appear.
Perspectives
People often assume migraine is just "another headache" without associated systemic complications. There has been a growing body of evidence regarding migraine's links with brain stroke, heart attacks, and eye strokes, among others. I hope patients and their close ones realize that migraine is a neurological condition with a biological basis that needs appropriate medical consultation. Pregnant women, in particular, are susceptible to blood clots and other medical conditions, so it is greatly advised to help them reach multi-disciplinary care teams involving Neurologists, Cardiologists, and Obstetricians.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed
Alexandria University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Migraine and pregnancy-related headaches as a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of over 94 million pregnancies, The Journal of Headache and Pain, November 2025, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1186/s10194-025-02190-1.
You can read the full text:
Resources
10-minute Video Summary of the Study's Findings for Physicians
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim discusses a systematic review and meta-analysis examining migraine as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events during pregnancy. The study analyzed over 94 million pregnancies and highlighted the significant risks associated with migraines in pregnant women. Pregnancy itself is a hypercoagulable and hemodynamic stress state, and when combined with migraines, it increases the likelihood of severe complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction.
Link to the Study from the Journal of Headache and Pain
Link to the Study from the Journal of Headache and Pain.
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