Is there a link between migraine and breast cancer risk?

How do migraine attacks affect physical health? Migraine attacks are characterized by intense headaches that can cause throbbing or pulsation, usually in one particular area or side of the head. An attack can last from anywhere between a few hours to a few days. Because of its intensity, a migraine-related headache is typically also accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine atack comes about in stages, each with its own set of symptoms. Before a migraine attack, a person may experience mood changes, dizziness, thirst, and/or light and sound sensitivity. About 25% of peopleTrusted Source with migraine will experience an aura stage causing disturbances affecting their ability to see, touch, and speak. The headache stage of a migraine attack is identified by pain on one or both sides of the head. This stage can last for several hours up to a few days. The postdrome stage occurs at the end of the headache stage, with symptoms including tiredness, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, body aches, and depression. As migraine can damage the sensory nervous systemTrusted Source, past studies show it can potentially lead to a sensory processing disorderTrusted Source. Another study found that migraine headaches may damageTrusted Source the body’s autonomic nervous systemTrusted Source, which controls unconscious processes like breathing and heartbeat. And because of the severity and duration of a migraine, they can have a profound negative impactTrusted Source on a person’s everyday life. Migraine and breast cancer Why might there be a link between migraine and breast cancer? Both migraine and breast cancer are associated with changes in estrogen levels. High estrogen levels can increase a person’s breast cancer risk. Moreover, the severity and frequency of migraine attacks in women can be affected byTrusted Source changing estrogen levels during a their menstrual cycle, menopausal stage, or pregnancy. Over the past few years, there have been a number of studies looking at the potential link between migraine and breast cancer. However, the results have been mixed. A study published in April 2023 found that women who had migraine had a higher riskTrusted Source of developing certain subtypes of breast cancer and also showed an overall earlier onset of breast cancer. A study published in December 2018 found women who had four or more medical visits for migraine each year had a significantly greater risk of breast cancer. Conversely, a meta-analysis study published in February 2022 found a statistically significantly inverse relationshipTrusted Source between migraine and total risk of breast cancer. And a study published in April 2023 found that people with migraine had a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer, especially hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.