Medical Mondays: Migraines Caused by Heart
By: Kyna Grigsby
Updated: February 16, 2009
Did you know that a hole in your heart could be affecting those nagging migraines?
One in four people are born with a hole in their heart called PFO.
Most are benign, but some are linked to migraines and strokes. Researchers recruited a group of migraine patients.
Through surgery, the holes in their hearts were closed and that stopped the migraines in a majority of patients.
A new study looks into whether young athletes should be required to undergo extensive heart tests before playing sports.
Researchers analyzed medical records from athletes who died suddenly or survived cardiac arrest.
They found over half suffered cardiovascular disease that, in many cases, could have been detected by ECG.
Experts say the chances of dying suddenly while playing sports was similar to that of being hit by lightening, but more studies are needed.
