It is reported that women whose migraine headaches produce visual symptoms, called auras, are almost seven times more likely to have a stroke compared to women without a history of migraines. Eight percent of stoke cases had onset of migraines with auras. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives have seven times the risk of stroke than women who just had the migraines and aura.

The most common stoke associated with migraines is ischemic stroke. A person has ischemic stoke when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

A woman with migraines can lower her risk of stroke by not smoking and finding alternatives to the use of estrogen-containing contraceptives.