How to Prevent Exercise-Induced and Exertion Migraine Headaches

Exercise can trigger migraines for many a migraine patient.

Here's some advise to those of my gentle readers who want to keep in shape, migraines or other types of headaches non withstanding, from Dr. Jack Klapper, a Denver-based neurologist, Dr. Salwa H. Hanna of the Headache Clinic of Denver, and Julie Johnson, a runner with a 20-year competitive racing record who keeps on running in spite of her migraine.

When Julie Johnson feels a headache coming up while she is running, she downs 20 ounces of an electrolyte drink. She follows up with 20 more ounces over the next 30 minutes. This usually helps to stay off the migraine and allows her to finish her run.

For some athletes, migraines are triggered from muscle pain. According to some medical experts, many athletes suffer from a buildup of muscular tension brought on by exercise. During exercises like swimming or running, head and neck muscles may become tight enough to set off a domino effect, creating muscle spasms and blood-flow restriction.

Dr. Jack Klapper's advise to patients who experience such headaches to take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as naproxen sodium before a hard physical exertion. According to the good doctor, one pill of Ibuprofen about an hour before exercise might just do the trick.

Dr. Salwa H. Hanna does worn, however, to be careful with OTC meds. "Use of Ibuprofen, Excedrin or Anacin on a daily basis can cause rebound headaches," said Hanna. Yours truly concurs.

Dr. Hanna also mentions to watch out you food and environmental triggers before and while you exercise. That does make sense since migraine triggers do tend to pile up. Willingly exposing oneself to a potential trigger such as an exercise, there's really no need to add anything else up to it.

link: Nutrition, hydration provide some relief from migraines