Migraine

How many of you have genetic hypertension as well as migraines?

My doctor says vascular disorders are very common among migraine sufferers. Is there any tangible evidence for this?

My grandmother, a migraine sufferer just like me, had early onset dementia (ischemic, as in no known cause). She had vascular changes in her brain, so I often wonder if this will be my fate as well, since patients with genetic hypertension are also at a much greater risk.

And I already have rather high, hard to control, blood pressure + "white lesions" in my brain that show up on MRI.

What is the connection here? Has this ever been throroughly studied? Personal experiences anyone?

Thanks

I have a vascular disorder, but it's the opposite, and I don't know if it's related to the migraines. I have HYPOtension. My bp is crazy LOW, and I get super lightheaded from it. I sometimes get these near-blackouts as a result.

I wish I knew more about this, but every time I try to go to a doctor about this, they look at me like I'm crazy. There isn't a lot of help out there for people with LOW blood pressure problems.

hello!

i also have low blood pressure -- i used to pass out/get dizzy more often than i do now. my sisters and father also have low blood pressure and pass out randomly. and while we're on the topic of vascular abnomalities, my older sister had a stroke when she was 23 due to a PFO (hole in her heart). my dad says he'd love to get all of us together and head to one doctor, and see if they can figure out the connection, and if it'd help them understand the cause of my daily migraines.
emily

I was diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension in my early 20s. I am very lucky in that my blood pressure while very high without drug therapy is very easy controlled with the use of only one drug. Every one in my family is hypertensive and we get diagnosed very young and with very high blood pressures. I am not sure if there is a link but I know non-migraine headaches were not recognized as related to my blood pressure because I had such a headache history. I do wonder if there is a link.

All low blood pressure here in my family too...until older age when it suddenly switches to higher blood pressure.

Heart disease does run in my family though; and I do have a large PFO.

Geez. How lucky can one get? I've the hypertension in the family, but no history of migraine. This is supposed to be a genetic disorder? Go figure?

Most of the time, Migraineurs do find a history of Migraine if they have access to family members. They may have been called "sick headaches," or people may have thought they were sinus headaches. In 90% of cases, what people think are sinus headaches are actually Migraines.

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Originally posted by Chronic HA:
Geez. How lucky can one get? I've the hypertension in the family, but no history of migraine. This is supposed to be a genetic disorder? Go figure?

Very interesting answers...thanks.

It didn't really occur to me to think about the low blood pressure connection, but come to think of it, my sister also has this problem, with migraines just like me.

On the other hand, my mom & I both have high blood pressure with migraines. Mine stays around 140/80-150/100 even with a healthy diet & daily vigorous exercise.

I haven't found a med to work yet (on either blood pressure or migraines for that matter! ), but I just wonder if I would significantly reduce my odds of long term permanent brain changes if I were to successfully get all these vascular issues under control.

My dad has severe hypertension that is controlled by medication. My mom has "white coat hypertension." Her BP is high at the doctor's office, but not at any other time.

Mine is borderline, but controlled with an ARB, Avapro.jI'm not sure about my 5 sibs, but I suspect that the one who is hugely overweight and has diabetes also has high BP.

My mom has had one migraine in her life. At least we think that's what it was. They hospitalized her for a couple of days (in the 70's) and decided it was some kind of virus. Looking back, it was probably migraine. That's the only migraine we can find in the family, her one attack.

Of course, the only red hair we know of is one of my grandfather's aunts. My great-grandmother's sister. She also was a musician, and I was a music major for 3 years. Switched to History for pre-law.

Gretchen

My littlest boy is a flaming red head too (adorable in my very biased opinion!). Not sure where that one came from either.

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Of course, the only red hair we know of is one of my grandfather's aunts.