Exertion Headaches

[tweetypi]

Has anyone found anything to help with these?

I'm trying to build up an exercise routine but if I push myself then I overheat and get a cracking headache. Painkillers don't seem to touch it, the only thing that helps is falling asleep (which isn't very practical). I'm currently overweight, not sure if that is exacerbating it.

If anyone has any advice or can share my pain it'd be appreciated!

Are you dehydrated?

Can that cause them? I definitely hydrate well during and after but probably not before. Yesterday I went to the gym after the school run and had just had a cup of tea to start the day...

Is it tension in your neck?
I get neck tension from weights for example and it causes migraines. There are certain exercises I do less of due to it and I really need to be careful of my form.

Yes, my neck and shoulders feel really tight. I've mostly struggled after running and weightlifting. Swimming has always been fine.

How overweight? Can you focus on diet plus walking on the treadmill and weights for a few weeks to get your weight down and see if that helps? Are you new to exercise?

It will take more time but try Adrianne yoga on you tube. She has migraine/headache and shoulder tension yoga. You need to be aware of posture too. It’s worth doing one of her 30 day programmes.

I try and deliberately push my shoulders down as I hunch when cold and stressed.

If you have never done yoga it helps you be aware of your body and poor posture.

@Atissues my bmi is 31.2 at the moment, I'm not particularly new to exercise, I gained a lot of weight while pregnant and have been seeing a pt for the last year to get me back on my feet. To be honest, the headache thing has always been a problem, even when younger and fitter!
Thank you for the yoga recommendation, that sounds like it might be helpful to use as part of a cool down too. I've been meaning to add some yoga in but haven't found the right thing yet, I'll try searching for that

Adrianne is great. Try the neck tension one maybe do it before bed too? I think there’s one which is only about 8 mins long. Hopefully it will help.

I used to get these, they would come on a little while after exercise. For me it was if I pushed myself too hard doing anything cardio. I would be fine after a pilates or tone class, also after a weights session. But an aerobics class or a combat class that got me hot, sweaty and red faced would give me a cracking headache that lasted most of the day. I tried an assortment of different pain killers, made sure I was well hydrated, lots of stretching around the shoulders, head and neck in case it was tension.
What worked was scaling back the cardio and making sure I didn't get my heart rate too high. I built it up gradually until I got fitter.

Same here

I used to get these if I started running and went too fast. Take whatever you're doing really sloooowly.

Also use your breath. Breathe out on the exertion. Try to control your breath - in through the nose and out through a very small gap between your lips (Pilates-style breathing).

I get post exercise migraines. I'm very fit and normal bmi. Things that help are drinking lots (with electrolytes) and riboflavin 400mg daily for migraines. The risk is much worse if I've worked out particularly hard.

I also find not sitting down for the rest of the day helps- keep moving. I read about taking ibuprofen pre migraine but this didn't work for me- might for you!

Hope you get sorted they are the worst!

I get these too, am overweight but with some fitness. It seems to be after run , even though I go really slowly. Had to lie down in bed yesterday afternoon which is ridiculous for the amount of exercise it was. Took paracetamol and Ibuprofen to try to shift it. Makes me nervous to go next week as can't be out of action all afternoon. Was hoping someone else had a miracle cure!