Risk of a neck artery dissection is higher in migraine sufferers

Dissection of the cervical artery is a dangerous condition which can lead to a stroke and even death, although in some it can be a benign condition with no lasting effects. A recently published study by Germain researchers in the journal Cephalalgia indicates that this condition is two times more common in people with migraine headaches. Dissection means that the wall of the artery is split and this can close off blood flow in the artery. In most people closing off of an artery is not a problem because there are 4 arteries in the neck that carry blood to the brain. However, in some one artery carries a large portion of the blood and the remaining 3 arteries cannot compensate, leading to a stroke. The dissection usually causes severe neck pain and if blood flow is compromised it also leads to neurological symptoms, such as a droopy eyelid, weakness or numbness on one side, difficulty speaking and other symptoms of a stroke. Neck pain is often the earliest and in benign cases the only symptom. Because migraine sufferers frequently have neck pains, this complaint can be dismissed by doctors as a symptom of their migraine. So, if someone’s neck pain is very severe and different from their usual neck pains it is very important to seek medical attention and insist on an evaluation. The diagnosis is made my an MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) scan. This increased risk of dissection is another reason why migraine sufferers particularly should avoid chiropractic adjustments, which can result in dissection even in non-migraineurs.

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