Current drugs taken up to 10 million Americans for anxiety and high blood pressure can reduce the risk of stroke in some risky people, suggests a study.
Propranolol, a type of medication known as “beta-blocker” which reduces the effects of adrenaline, has reduced the risk of stroke of up to 50% in women with chronic migraines.
Researchers from the University of Vanderbilt have combed more than 3 million medical records and found that the drug made a significant difference for women, there were no effect in men with migraines.
Scientists believe that migraines lead to spasms in the arteries of the brain and, over time, they block blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of blood clots and cerebral vascular accidents.
Propranolol is believed to prevent blood vessels from expanding and cause spasms.
The results therefore suggest that the use of propranolol, which costs less than a dollar per pill, to treat migraine in women can reduce their risk of stroke.
A stroke is one of the main causes of death in the United States, hitting 800,000 Americans each year, or one every 40 seconds. About 160,000 people die from a stroke each year.
Dr. Mulubrhan Mogos, main study author and assistant professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, “said:” Migraine is a risk factor often inigenous with cardiovascular problems. Until recently, preventive treatments for people with migraines were not available.
New research from Vanderbilt University has revealed that the Propranolol beta-blocker has lowered the risk of stroke in women with migraine up to 50% (image in stock)
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Dr. Mogos continued: “Many women suffer from migraines, and it is important to note that propranolol can be beneficial for these women … This is an important discovery for those who treat migraines.”
It is believed that around 28 million adult women – one in six – should face the regular migraines.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker, a type of medication generally prescribed to treat high blood pressure and irregular cardiac rhythms.
It has also been shown that the effects of anxiety, such as trembling hands and a wobbly voice, which is why doctors also prescribe it for performance anxiety.
It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing the heart rate, which improves blood circulation and reduces blood pressure.
This allows blood to flow more easily to the brain, preventing clots and cerebral vascular accidents.
In the new study, which will be presented at the next international conference on stroke next week, the researchers have examined 3 million electronic health files extending over 15 years from two large databases.
The study included men and women with migraine who were divided into two groups: those who had undergone a stroke after their first migraine and those who had no stroke.
The team then examined if the patients were treated with propranolol for migraine.
The team found that propranolol had lowered the risk of ischemic stroke in women with migraine of 52% in one analysis and 39% in the other.
However, the drug has made no difference for men.
There are several types of stroke, but the most common is an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, cutting the blood supply and depriving the cerebral cells of oxygen, which Make a dite.
The team said it was possible that no effect was observed in men because migraine was more closely associated with stroke in women than men, although the exact mechanism of difference does be not clear.
Women are between two and four times more likely than men to have migraine. A 2023 study revealed that 43% of women and 18% of men had at least one.
The CDC report found that the stroke increased in people aged 18 to 64 by approximately 15% when comparing for strokes of 2011-2013 to strokes from 2020 to 2012222
Researchers said the low cost of Propranolol – around $ 10 to $ 20 for a month – could provide a more accessible solution for the treatment of migraines and, in the long term, a stroke.
Dr. Mogos said: “Our results indicate that women and health professionals should discuss the benefits of preventive migraine interventions.
“For under-strength individuals who support a greater load of this condition and can have access to new treatments, we must ensure that these treatments are at their disposal. This approach can help reduce health disparities.
The results of the study could be significant given the number of people, especially young people, with cerebral vascular accidents in recent years.
There was an increase of around 8% in all cerebral vascular accidents, with an increase of 15% in people aged 18 to 44.
Although propranolol can prevent cerebral vascular accidents, additional research suggests that other common drugs such as anti-psychotics and antipsychotics and opioids could increase the risk of stroke.
Antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine and haloperidol have been shown to be taken by 3.8 million adults in the United States cause weight gain, which can in turn increase blood pressure and cause artery narrowing , which increases the risk of stroke.
In addition, anticoagulants and warfarin – taken by 8 million Americans – reduce the ability of the blood to coagulate. However, too thin blood can cause hemorrhages in the brain, another form of stroke.