Comments on: Get a Headache after Working Out?

By: Joe M.

Joe M. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:52:06 +0000

I am a 36 year old male 5’9″ 172lbs and I experienced my first migraine about 2 years ago after a 60 minute run on a treadmill. The day before I had gone to the chiropractor for an adjustment for a slight scoliosis that I have. Initially I attributed the migraine to the adjustment. Since then I’ve had 3 more migraines which have each been triggered after a run. I spoke with my GP after the 1st and 2nd episode and he said that most likely I wasn’t eating or drinking enough before I ran. The most recent migraine I’ve had was three days ago. I went on a night run at 8:30pm which is a 30 minute jog I do around my block a few times a week. I almost immediately experienced aura’s which developed into partial blindness in my left eye, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound then was followed by an excruciating migraine. Luckily I was able to relax and fall asleep thankfully. When I awoke in the morning the headache was gone. Three days later I still feel tired and worn out. I believe the migraines are occurring from spinal fluid constriction or an undiagnosed aneurysm. I’ve been road biking, running, hiking, and swimming and the only time I get a migraine is after a run. At this point I am very concerned that it may be a very serious arterial/vein issue. I plan to schedule a CT scan as soon as possible. If anyone has advice or is having a similar experience I’d love to hear from you.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:48 +0000

One thing to think about is constipation. I never used to get headaches no matter how physical I was (except when I first started being physically active).

3 weeks ago I quit caffeine (so this includes chocolate) – I only had 1 pepsi a day but also ate the odd bit of chocolate. I kinda almost got a headache the day after but since then I had felt good. I presume I got away lightly as I never drank coffee or tea.

This week I’ve started having headaches but they don’t feel like a normal headache and have realised it’s due to constipation. The diuretic effect of the caffeine must have made me go regular enough but since quiting I’ve realised I don’t go very often at all.

Just something to think about as constipation = an extremely high chance of having headaches also. Time for a diet change…

By: Zack

Zack — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:38:33 +0000

I always get headache after workout for about an one hour time but the headache I will get in few hours later and No success to prevented it any suggestion also don’t know if hormones plays any roll here Cause almost daily is my sex relief Perform ,

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:10:35 +0000

I’ve suffered from migraines ever since the birth of my last child in 2007. They used to be just once a month with my menstrual cycle, but this past March 2011 they ramped up to twice a week and sometimes I was just in a constant state of migraine. Internist and Neurologist said genetics, hormones, and weather are the cause and treated me with Topamax, Amitryptaline, muscle relaxers and my best friend in the whole wide world…Imitrex. Well, after 4 months I had to get off the Topamax because of a bad reaction (more like DOPE-a-max), but I’m still on all the other drugs. Tried chiro, massage, diet modification, OTC’s, etc. to no avail. Every time I work out I get a migraine, in fact its not just working out – its every time my heart rate gets above a certain level. Hot weather, even if I’m completely inactive, does me in as well. I believe it has something to do with my body working to regulate its temperature. Now that I can think again since I got off the Topamax, I decided to tackle research again. I’m currently looking into transdermal magnesium as a supplement (b/c the mg tablets gave me bowel problems) and continuing with my chiro treatments and meds. One of the doctors suggested a saliva hormone test – that will probably be completed within the next month or so and then we’ll see exactly how jacked up those levels are.

By: Marnie

Marnie — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:47:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing everyone – I had success preventing headaches by preventing overheating – I did this by tying a cold wet towel around my neck while I worked out – it prevented my head from overheating by cooling down the blood in the arteries in my neck. Reading through these posts I’m also in the future going to add a little salt to my water bottle. Thanks for sharing!

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:32:07 +0000

Drinking that much straight water during or after a workout is Not Good. One also needs electrolyte replacement, lest one suffer hyponatremia, which can cause the brain to swell (and can be fatal!).

I’d suggest your son’s liquid replacement include a sports drink (such as Gatorade) as at least every other drink consumed. For example, while bicycling, I drink several swallows’ worth of liquid every fifteen minutes, alternating between my Gatorade bottle and my water bottle.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:54:02 +0000

My 17 year old son suffers from migraines & has sinusitus & mild asthma. Whenever he exerts himself physically, he often gets migraine/ headache/ nausea. He’s had a stress test at cardiologist- all normal. He’s gets annual MRIs which are all normal too (He has a non active / not growing benign glioma in his right thalmus- which headaches are not a symptom) (That was found incidentally because of his migraines)
We found that dehydration was definitely a contributing factor to his headaches & he drinks 2 gallons of water during intense workouts. He plays Varsity basketball for his high school. I’d like him to be checked out by a specialist but don’t know what type of doctor to go to for this, pulmonologist? exercise physiologist? His pediatrician is not too concerned but I feel there’s a larger issue here. Any suggestions?

By: Andras Kadinger

Andras Kadinger — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:31:23 +0000

Dana,

Get yourself checked for Sleep Apnea if you wake up with a headache!

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:26:09 +0000

After having Chronic headaches after exsertion I began to miss alot of work because it became everything I did exerting myself was disabling. So I seeked ER medical attention and they ran a CT Scan which came back normal and was sent home. Well the headaches where still so bad to the point doing little things was to much. So finally a specialist that was trying to figure out what was wrong lead me back into the ER and he said run an MRI stat. Well they found undiagnosed hypertension lessons in the gray matter surrounding my Brian that needed further testing. To figure out if I had a disease that was causing these lessons I had to get a spinal tap… Which was so painful and came back negative for any MS or disease and also the spinal tap caused me more headaches I had to get 4 blood patches because spinal fluid was leaking and caused a never ending migraine but with rest it patched up okay I believed anyway but I seemed worse after that. But he just kept treating me for headaches and migraines with imotrex, amerge, and so forth… After Two years of it I seen another doctor he said lets give you some oxygen let’s see what happens.. My headache was gone in 15 to 20 min a relief I long to feel. My doctor said the pain I was feeling targeting one side of my face , behind my eye, neck, was called a cluster headache very rare… They could last for weeks, months disappear and come back again. So as result I became disabled the constant pain with them with oxygen 2 times a day for thirty minutes seemed to be the only answer. I still get the headaches the doctors say that the more you suffer migraines and headaches the more likely you will be causing tissue damage and reach to a point of seizure ‘s and if not treated a stroke. So not only to I need preventing med like verapamil a calcium blocker to constrict blood flow, I also have to take my oxygen, and with the on going headaches they have affected my right side motor skills , a migraine or cluster headache can mimic a stroke and cause motor skill problems as it has happend to me. The doctors today still don’t understand what’s wrong… They just continue to treat me. I know this is alot to take in… But take your constant exsertion headaches seriously. I used to be a physical trainer, 175 pounds, ate healthy, no smoke, and the doctor says you know sometimes we just break and they consider me the mystery case… So I would def talk to your doctors about cluster headaches and oxygen as a un harmful treatment that you can use in the privacy of your home when you really need fast relief..many doctors don’t offer this as a treatment but I have a great doctor who continues to search for those answers for me….

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:40:25 +0000

That’s EXACTLY my story too. You’re a physician?