An Aching Head May Mean Vision Problems, Too

Ivanhoe Newswire
Tuesday, May 15, 2007; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Regular headaches might be doing more than causing a pain in the head.

A new study suggests people who suffer from migraines or other headaches could also be at increased risk for retinopathy, a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated.

The link was discovered by North Carolina researchers who followed nearly 11,000 men and women taking part in a larger study on atherosclerosis risk. All were between the ages of 51 and 71.

A history of headache or migraine was reported by 22 percent of the participants, and these people had about a 1.3- to 1.5-times higher risk of developing retinopathy. The finding was strongest among those without diabetes or high blood pressure who experienced migraines causing visual disturbances or "auras." The results held true even after researchers adjusted the data to account for smoking and other factors that could have influenced the risk.

Why would headaches increase the risk for retinopathy? The investigators believe the answer lies in the small blood vessels, which are similar in the brain and in the retina. "Our findings suggest that problems in the circulatory system of small blood vessels may be an underlying factor," study author Kathryn M. Rose, Ph.D., was quoted as saying.

Headache is a common condition in the United States, affecting about 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men.

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SOURCE: Neurology, 2007;68:1694-1700