exercise and headache Archives - Headache and Migraine News

19 July 2013

8 Benefits of Exercise for Headache Sufferers

Yes, getting exercise with a headache condition can be a challenge. But every once in a while we need to be reminded of the benefits!

For example:

Helps control your weight. Why not start with the obvious? With concerns about medications and even migraine itself causing weight gain, this is an important benefit.
Fights Heart Disease and Stroke. Sure, migraine may increase your risk – so why not lower it again with exercise?
Fights depression. Depression is a condition that often goes along with migraine. It’s time to fight back. Not only can exercise make you “feel better”, it can fight more serious conditions like clinical depression.
Energy boost. Chronic headache conditions may either cause or go along with fatigue. That might make it hard to get started with exercise – but once you get going you can fight fatigue.
Better sleep. Headache conditions such as migraine and cluster headache are often linked to sleep problems. Getting a good night’s sleep can make a huge difference.
Mental boost. Just how much migraine impacts your mental ability is a question of debate. We do know that some types of migraine certainly impact you mentally, at least in the short term – we’re talking ability to remember, think of words, even read and understand. Exercise helps you keep mental problems at bay. It also helps you learn, as you read more about your headache condition right here!
Circulation. And we’re talking in broad terms. Getting nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body in an effective and efficient way. This is very important for headache sufferers.
Relaxed muscles. Muscles tense? Muscle spasm? Triggering more pain than you want? Regular exercise can help fight it.

For more about exercise and migraine, read the experiences of one migraineur here.

Also, don’t miss this video – 23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

8 May 2008

Exercise and Migraine: 5 top tips for staying active

James Tips 3

Sure, everyone keeps telling us how important exercise is. It can be a great headache and migraine fighter – but it’s not that simple.

Many people with chronic headache or migraine think of exercise as the enemy. In many people, exercise can actually bring on the headache they were trying to avoid. Instead of imagining health and vitality, we think about throbbing temples and inflammation who knows where.

There’s no easy solution, but there are some ways to minimize the problem. The truth is, you’re almost certainly going to be better off if you can get some exercise into your routine (not convinced exercise will help you? Read about the benefits of exercise for headache here). Here are my top 5 tips to help you stay active in spite of the migraine monster looking over your shoulder:

Watch out for sudden changes: Headaches and migraine attacks thrive on sudden changes. This is a great rule of thumb to keep in mind. For example, don’t jump into a new, strenuous program – start slow. Make sure you warm up and cool down before and after exercise. And when choosing something to do, don’t pick something that involves long periods of stopping – do something with steady activity (even if it’s only short).
Sugar: The energy your brain uses comes mostly from blood sugar. Sudden rises and drops can cause problems. Some people find it helpful to eat easily digestible foods one hour or more before exercise (ie fruit, muffin). Some people also use glucose tablets before exercising, and find that they get fewer headaches. (Read more about athletes and sugar before exercise here)
Water: The other important factor is hydration – be sure to drink plenty of water. Many people have found that simply drinking more water fights their headaches quite a bit. It’s an old tip, but it’s a good one!
Exercise as a way of life: For someone with chronic headaches, this may be the most important tip of all. Many of us struggle with an exercise "program", or "going to the gym". It’s hard to be consistent when you many days you really can hardly get out of bed because of the pain. Instead, simply be more active on a regular basis. Learn to squat properly to get something out of the cupboard. Take the stairs when you can. Learn how to exercise your arms while sitting in the office chair. (An amazing source for tips is the book The Posture Prescription by Dr Arthur White and Kate Kelly) This is one tip that could truly transform your life.
Watch the pain: I know, no pain no gain, right? Well, when it comes to headache, that advice could be dangerous. If you get a headache when you exercise, it could be a sign of something serious. Listen to your pain. If it’s something new, see a doctor right away. Don’t keep exercising if you’re getting a worsening headache. Stop and try something less strenuous, or do things in smaller chunks.

What about medication? Well, our goal here really is to take less, not more. But there are times when it may be worth it to take some medication if it means you can exercise more. If you have chronic headache or migraine, it’s worth it to look at preventative medications. Your doctor may suggest you take a painkiller before you exercise. Common suggestions are Propranolol, Ergotamine tartrate, Indocin, or common anti-inflammatories (such as Advil). But try the above suggestions before you start popping more pills.

Want to read more? Click one of the links above, or read more about after exercise headaches, how to minimize the problem, and this post on Pilates and migraine.