While exercise is a normal part of a healthy lifestyle, it can be a migraine trigger for those who suffer from migraine headaches. However, there are ways to reduce the frequency of exercise-related migraine headaches. Here are several of them.
EASE INTO IT
Researchers are not sure exactly how exercise causes migraines but one thing is for sure: sudden, extreme exercise is usually to blame. You see, when a migraine occurs, blood vessels in the head dilate and stretch nerve endings, causing them to send pain signals. Extreme exertion can cause this so one way to keep exercise-related migraines from occurring is to warm up slowly and always cool down after exercise. Never start high-intensity exercise abruptly. Like everything else in life, avoid extremes. A program of gradual conditioning exercise will help.
KEEP HYDRATED
Dehydration is the culprit for anything from muscle cramps to constipation. Drinking before, during, and after exercise is important and can help reduce migraines associated with exercise. How much you drink depends on your work-out. If you are going to run a marathon, a bottle of vitamin-enhanced water or a sports drink before and/or during exercise may help. But if it’s a moderate workout, drinking a little water periodically during your activity may be enough to keep hydrated.
KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS
Migraine triggers vary from person to person. If you know your migraine triggers, you can modify your behavior to avoid situations where your triggers will affect you. For example, if your triggers are dehydration and flickering lights, you can exercise outside but wear sunglasses and always bring a backpack-style water carrier. Knowing your triggers is important so you can have control over environmental conditions that may cause your migraines.
KEEP EXERCISING
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and rejuvenate the body. So don’t sit of the sidelines of exercise just because you tend to get migraines. In fact, moderate exercise may actually help. Several studies have indicated that people who got regular exercise had fewer, shorter, and less severe migraines than those who weren’t active. The studies were small, and they didn’t show exactly how much exercise, or what type of exercise, is best for migraine patients. But increasing the level of fitness is definitely one way to predict migraine improvement.
Although exercise is important to a healthy lifestyle, if you only get headaches when you exercise, that could be a warning sign. It could indicate a neurological problem or abnormal blood flow to the brain. In that case, call your doctor to rule out other health problems. Also, other warning signs for a health condition include sudden headaches, numbness or tingling, or what may feel like the worst headache of your life. If that happens, call 911 right away, as it could be a sign of a medical emergency.
Tags: exercise, headaches, low impact, migraine pain, Migraines, symptoms, triggers
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