.......MIGRAINES AND RISK OF STROKE...______________________________________________________________AS MANY AS17 percent of women and 6 percent of men have experienced the debilitating of a migraine.Research shows that women who have migraines accompanied by their distinctive "aura" symptoms are at greater risk of having a stroke than those who don't get migraines.WHY THE LINK?Migraine headaches are caused by inflammation of the arteries surrounding the brain.Other arteries inside the brain may spasm during an attack as well, temporarily cutting off circulation, thus increasing the odds of a stroke.ADDITIONAL RISKSAbnormalities in the lining of arteries may also allow blood to clot more readily."And in rare cases, arteries leading to the brain may tear more easily," says Dr Gretchen...