Two recent studies have suggested that midlife women who suffer from migraines and hot flashes may not necessarily increase their risk of heart problems, unless they are enduring these issues for extended periods. One study analyzed data from over 1,900 women beginning from when the majority were in their twenties. It found a link between early adulthood migraine attacks and persistent menopausal hot flashes or night sweats, with a 51 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 70 percent increased stroke risk. However, only about 7 percent of women had both a history of migraines and persistent hot flashes.

“Women with migraines only or hot flashes that weren’t prolonged and severe were not at particularly increased risk,” says the lead study author, Catherine Kim, MD, MPH, an associate professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The second study honed in on determining which factors early in adulthood could heavily impact the risk of enduring hot flashes and night sweats during menopause. The study manifested that women with migraines were 69 percent more likely to experience persistent menopausal symptoms in later life.

The particular limitation of both studies is that they weren’t designed to affirm whether migraines or persistent hot flashes could directly cause events like heart attacks or strokes. They also didn’t explore whether treating migraines or vasomotor symptoms might have an impact on cardiovascular risk as women age.

Regardless, Kim advised that all women should concentrate on aspects within their control early in their adulthood that may decrease their risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes down the line, including weight, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and especially, cigarette use.