Patent Foramen Ovale - Correlation with Headaches - Part 2

"Patients with a history of stroke and patent foramen ovale have a higher prevalence of migraine with aura than the general population" (Neurology Review.com, Feb04). In a separate paper, the same investigators reported interim findings of an ongoing study examining the prevalence of patent foramen ovale and ischemic brain lesions in patients with migraine compared with healthy controls. Once again the data suggests an increased prevalence of patent foramen ovale and migraine patients.

From the same article in neurology review Dr. Markus Schwerzmann, M.D. of the Swiss Cardiovascular Center is quoted as follows" "What we found was first, patients with a patent forman ovale and a history of stroke had migraine much more often than we expect in the general population. Of the 215 patients, 48 (22%) suffered from migraine...compared to an expected 10%- 12% in the general European population."

In an interim report of a second study Dr. Schwerzmann noted that the patent foramen ovale was present in 25 of 57 patients with migraine with aura (44%).

Another study that was conducted by BTU Doctors Peter Wilmhurst and Andrew Dowson (study conducted in the United Kingdom) enrolled 147 patients who suffered from migraine. Of those patients over 60% had a right to left shunt, a heart defect, which allows blood to cross from the right to the left chambers of the heart, bypassing the lungs. Of those patients, almost 40% had a moderate or large to moderate PFO.

With the studies that have been done, I think that a correlation can be made between migraine and the PFO. This obviosuly, is not the only cause of headaches. Click here to get more information about the causes of headaches and MSG and headaches. Tomorrow we will begin to take a look at what can be done to PFO victims.

I hope that all is well. Look for people to help you out tomorrow, expect it. Here's to Feeling Outstanding.