HHS HealthBeat (November 25, 2008)

Something good about migraines

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A scientist has found something good to say about migraines. Christopher Li at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center:

``Women who reported a history of migraine had about a 30 percent reduction in their risk of breast cancer, compared to women who did not report a history of migraine.’’ (8 seconds)

Li thinks it’s related to estrogen. The female hormone can raise the risk of some forms of breast cancer. And women who have migraines can have the headaches when estrogen levels fall. So it could be the estrogen, not the headache, behind the reduction.

Li isn’t basing advice on his study; more work needs to be done first. He does encourage women to get regular mammograms and follow other good health practices.

The study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November, 25 2008