An American Nurses' Health Study has found that women who suffer migraines are more likely to experience a heart problem.

Women who experience migraines are also more likely to suffer from major heart problems, a new study has found.

Experts examined data on more than 110,000 nurses taking part in the American Nurses' Health Study.

Of these almost 18,000 were reported to suffer migraines when they were initially examined.

Over 20 years of follow-up, experts noted 1,329 major cardiovascular disease events and 223 women died from cardiovascular disease.

The team of researchers from Germany and the US found that those who reported migraine problems had a 50 per cent increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes compared to those who didn't suffer from migraines.

They were also found to be more likely to die from these conditions, according to the study published in The BMJ.

Women who suffer from migraines should be assessed for their risk of heart problems, the authors said.

"Analysis of data from a large prospective cohort study in women show that migraine is associated with any cardiovascular disease, including coronary events and cardiovascular mortality," they wrote.

"These results further add to the evidence that migraine should be considered an important risk marker for cardiovascular disease, at least in women."

Migraines are more common in women than men.

NHS Choices states that the condition, usually a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or side of the head, affects around one in every five women and one in every 15 men.