For sufferers of severe migranes, there is a possible new cure…

Migraine linked to heart defect
A new study, the first trial of its kind, is looking into the possible link between migraines and a hole in the heart. If successful, it could be the most significant development in treatment for over a decade.

One in four people have a valve-like hole, which can be closed using straight-forward keyhole surgery, but it is twice as common among a type of migraine sufferer. The theory is that closing this hole will ensure blood going through the heart is always filtered through the lungs on the way to the brain – thus removing chemicals that are thought to play a role in causing migraine. The operation takes less than an hour and is carried out under light general anaesthetic.

Researchers are now looking for volunteers who suffer migraines with aura – one of the most severe types of the condition. People who experience severe migraine are invited to participate in a study. More information is available from Migraine Action Association, call 0870 050 5898 or MIST. There is with with no obligation to sign up to the study.