United States: The research indicates that typical medicines prescribed to 10 million Americans for managing their anxiety along with high blood pressure may help reduce stroke risks for select populations at risk.
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Propranolol, which is a kind of ‘beta blocker’ drug, provided a benefit to women with chronic migraines because the blood pressure medication reduced their stroke risk by fifty percent.
Vanderbilt University researchers analyzed 3 million medical records to detect how propranolol benefited female migraine patients without impacting male migraine patients, the Guardian reported.
Research into migraines reveals their association with brain artery spasms that progressively create brain blood flow blockages, which boost the possibility of both blood clots and stroke occurrence.
Scientific evidence supports that propranolol blocks the dilation of blood vessels, preventing spasms from occurring. Using propranolol treatment for migraine in female patients at a pill cost of under one dollar appears to reduce their stroke risks.

Stroke stats in the US
Every 40 seconds, a stroke occurs somewhere in the United States, which positions stroke as one of the deadliest killers in America since it affects 800,000 Americans per year.
Death from stroke results in the demise of 160,000 individuals annually.
According to Dr Mulubrhan Mogos, lead study author and assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, “Migraine is an often-ignored risk factor for cardiovascular issues. Until recently, preventive treatments for people who have migraines were not available,” the Guardian reported.
Moreover, “Many women suffer from migraines, and it’s important to note that propranolol may be beneficial for these women… This is an important discovery for those dealing with migraines,” Dr Mogos continued.
Medical experts estimate that 28 million adult women out of 6 million suffer from migraines, which amounts to one out of every six females in the US.
About the drug
The drug propranolol functions as a beta blocker that medical professionals commonly use to treat hypertension together with irregular heart patterns.
Medical professionals prescribe propranolol because it effectively halts both anxiety symptoms, such as shaky hands and wobbly voice, and it is recommended for individuals affected by performance anxiety.
By relaxing blood vessels and decreasing heart rate frequency, the medication enhances blood circulation and produces reduced blood pressure rates.
Blood flow toward the brain is facilitated by this mechanism, thus minimizing the occurrence of strokes and clots.