May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Migraine headaches are more common in women than men.  Migraines can often be crippling, sending a women to a quiet, darkened bedroom. Migraines are said to put a woman at greater risk of stoke than even family history of heart problems or high cholesterol.

That situation is bad enough.  But add Smoking and Oral Contraceptives to the migraine mix, and you have a potentially destructive combination, says McLeod Neurologist Dr. Timothy Hagen.

Are your headaches, smoking and oral contraceptives putting you at risk of stroke?  See your OB/GYN for an exam that looks at your blood pressure, among other health issues.

Find an OB/GYN near you. 

Sources include: McLeod Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, National Stroke Association, Women’s Health Initiative, National Institutes of Health