According to a new study recently published in the British Medical Journal, a serious link between severe migraines and an increased risk of suffering a stroke has been uncovered.

The study has confirmed that people with migraines are two times more prone to suffering a stroke, especially if accompanied by a condition known as aura, or temporary visual or sensory disturbances.

The research also revealed that women are exposed to a higher risk than men. Also, other factors which increase the chances of a stroke, in addition to severe migraine, are being young, smoking and being on contraceptive pills.

"The results suggest an approximately two-fold higher risk among women compared with men. Factors that further increased the risk of ischaemic stroke (caused by clots, accounting for 80% of strokes) were age less than 45 years, smoking, and use of oral contraceptives", details the study. The risk of suffering a stroke is the highest among young women who smoke, suffer migraine attacks and are on contraceptive pills.

Authors of the research had pooled in results of 9 similar studies conducted previously. A possible genetic link between migraine and strokes has also been suggested and is currently being explored.