A common blood pressure medication used to prevent migraines may also significantly reduce the risk of ischemic stroke in women, according to a new study.
The research, presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025, found that propranolol was linked to a lower risk of stroke in women who used the drug for migraine prevention.
However, the same protective effect was not observed in men.
Migraines affect millions of people, but they are three times more common in women than in men. Research has shown that migraine, particularly with aura, is associated with a higher risk of stroke, making migraine an overlooked cardiovascular risk factor.
Propranolol, a beta-blocker commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and migraine prevention, has been widely used for decades. However, until now, its potential to reduce stroke risk in migraine sufferers had not been fully explored.
Lead study author Dr. Mulubrhan Mogos, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, emphasized the significance of these findings. “Many women suffer from migraines, and propranolol may be particularly beneficial for those with migraine without aura,” Mogos said.
Researchers analyzed electronic health records from more than 3 million people using two large medical databases. They examined patients with migraines and compared those who developed strokes with those who did not. The analysis revealed:
- Women who took propranolol for migraine prevention had a significantly lower risk of ischemic stroke.
- 52% lower risk in one database
- 39% lower risk in the other database
- The protective effect was strongest in women with migraine without aura.
- No reduction in stroke risk was found in men who took propranolol.
- Women taking propranolol had lower stroke rates over multiple time points across 10 years.
Dr. Tracy Madsen, a stroke expert at the University of Vermont, explained that beta-blockers like propranolol are already known to lower blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke. She noted that this study provides valuable evidence that propranolol may offer additional benefits for women with migraines.
“This research highlights the importance of studying men and women separately when looking at stroke risk. Women living with frequent migraines now have an option that may not only prevent headaches but also reduce stroke risk,” Madsen said.
Migraines are especially common in women from underprivileged communities, who often lack access to newer migraine treatments due to high costs. Propranolol, an affordable and widely available medication, could offer a cost-effective way to reduce both migraines and stroke risk for these women.
Mogos stressed the need for greater awareness and access to preventive treatments, saying, “For women in under-resourced communities, ensuring access to these treatments could help reduce health disparities.”
While the study provides promising insights, there are some limitations:
- The study relied on electronic health records, which can contain errors or misclassifications.
- It was a retrospective study (looking at past data), meaning more research is needed to confirm these findings.
- Propranolol’s exact mechanism for reducing stroke risk in migraine patients still needs further investigation.
Future studies should explore whether propranolol’s benefits extend to diverse populations and whether other migraine prevention drugs also lower stroke risk.
This study suggests that propranolol may offer double benefits for women suffering from migraines—helping prevent both headaches and ischemic strokes. Given that migraines are a major but often overlooked stroke risk factor, these findings could lead to new guidelines for migraine management in women.
While more research is needed, propranolol could provide a simple, effective, and widely available option for reducing stroke risk in women with migraines—especially those who lack access to newer, more expensive treatments.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
