Asthma and Chronic Migraine Linked in Some People

US Pharm. 2016;41(1):18.

Cincinnati, OH—Individuals with asthma may be more than twice as likely to develop chronic migraines (15/month) as those without asthma, according to a University of Cincinnati study of about 4,500 subjects. At baseline, subjects had fewer than 15 migraines per month (episodic or occasional migraines), but 1 year later, more than 5% of those with asthma were experiencing chronic migraines, versus only 2.5% of those without asthma. Although the study was not designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship, the link between the conditions was robust. Since both asthma and migraine involve inflammation and activation of smooth muscle, it is possible that asthma-related inflammation may lead to migraine progression.