Migraine & Headache
What Is a Migraine Headache?
Amarish Dave, DO explains that migraine is a neurological disorder—not simply a bad headache—including common symptoms, aura, and when to see a neurologist.
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Can Migraines Cause a Stroke?
Having a migraine does not mean someone is having a stroke. However, research has found an association between migraine—particularly migraine with aura—and an increased risk of ischemic stroke. The absolute risk for an individual remains low, but the association is important, especially when additional vascular risk factors are present.
Written and medically reviewed by Amarish Dave, DO, board-certified neurologist. This page is educational and does not replace an individual medical evaluation.
What is migraine aura?
Aura refers to temporary neurological symptoms that can occur before or during a migraine. Aura can include visual changes such as flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots, as well as sensory symptoms such as tingling or numbness, and sometimes speech or language symptoms. Aura typically develops gradually and usually lasts 5–60 minutes.
A stroke, by contrast, is an injury to the brain from an interruption of blood flow. A migraine attack is not a stroke—but understanding the association, and knowing the warning signs that are different from your usual aura, is an important part of caring for your health.
Who should pay particular attention to stroke risk?
Vascular risk deserves particular attention in people with migraine with aura. Modifiable factors that can add to stroke risk include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Other cardiovascular risk factors
For women with migraine with aura, estrogen-containing combined hormonal contraception deserves an individualized discussion with their physician, because migraine with aura and combined hormonal contraception have both been associated with ischemic stroke risk. Treatment decisions are made during a migraine and headache evaluation, not through this website.
Important safety information
Migraine aura and stroke can sometimes produce similar neurological symptoms. New or unusual neurological symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be migraine. Seek urgent or emergency evaluation for new weakness or numbness on one side, new difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden loss of vision, new severe imbalance or other sudden neurological deficit, a sudden severe “worst headache of my life,” or an aura that is dramatically different from your usual symptoms. A first episode of apparent aura should be medically evaluated rather than self-diagnosed.
Key takeaways
- Having a migraine does not mean you are having a stroke.
- Migraine with aura has been associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, but the absolute risk for an individual remains low.
- Aura typically develops gradually and lasts 5–60 minutes; stroke symptoms tend to start suddenly.
- Managing smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and other vascular risk factors matters most.
- Women with migraine with aura should discuss estrogen-containing contraception individually with their physician.
- New, sudden, or dramatically different neurological symptoms should be medically evaluated—not self-diagnosed.
Continue learning about headache and brain health
Learn more about migraine and headache evaluation, migraine, what a migraine headache is, what a cluster headache is, stroke, and our neurology services. Browse more answers in the Neurology Video Library.
Frequently asked questions
- Can migraine with aura increase stroke risk?
- Research has found an association between migraine with aura and an increased risk of ischemic stroke. The absolute risk for an individual remains low, but the association is important—especially when additional vascular risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity are present.
- Does migraine without aura increase stroke risk?
- The association with stroke risk is strongest for migraine with aura. Migraine without aura has a weaker or less consistent association in research. Either way, managing overall cardiovascular health—blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and not smoking—remains important.
- How can you tell migraine aura from a stroke?
- Migraine aura typically develops gradually over minutes, often includes positive visual symptoms such as flashing lights or zigzag lines, and usually lasts 5–60 minutes. Stroke symptoms tend to start suddenly and are often loss of function, such as new weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, or sudden vision loss. Because they can overlap, new or unusual neurological symptoms should be medically evaluated rather than self-diagnosed.
- Can birth control affect stroke risk if I have migraine with aura?
- Migraine with aura and estrogen-containing combined hormonal contraception have both been associated with ischemic stroke risk. For women with migraine with aura, contraception choices deserve an individualized discussion with their physician; this website does not provide individualized treatment recommendations.
- When should a migraine patient go to the emergency room?
- Seek urgent or emergency evaluation for new weakness or numbness on one side, new difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden loss of vision, new severe imbalance or other sudden neurological deficit, a sudden severe 'worst headache of my life,' or an aura that is dramatically different from your usual symptoms.
Related videos
More medically reviewed neurology videos appear here automatically as they are published.
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Have a neurological concern?
Learn more about migraine, headaches, and neurological care at NeurologistCare.com. In-person neurology appointments are available in Crystal Lake and Woodstock, Illinois, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with telehealth available when appropriate for patients located anywhere in Illinois or Wisconsin.
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