Exercise Induced Headaches

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ai071408
ai071408 Posts: 22 Member
edited January 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
No matter what I do, I get a terrible headache shortly after exercising. I enjoy doing cardio but the headache that always follows makes me not want to do it. People often suggest that I am not drinking enough water, but I drink 4-5 16oz water bottles a day. Any suggestions
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Replies

  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    edited January 2016
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    Have you tried having a sugary snack right afterwards? I get post workout hypoglycemia which gives me terrible headaches and nausea. Literally an ounce of OJ or a glucose tablet will prevent it from happening if taken immediately after my workout.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
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    My first thought is high blood pressure, which is a little scary. You're pretty young for that but anything is possible. If I were you, I would get my blood pressure checked.
  • notcorky
    notcorky Posts: 49 Member
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    I agree with quiksylver - sounds like a blood pressure related issue. Same thing was happening/happened to a friend of mine.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
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    If you are already drinking an adequate amount of water, Definitely see a doctor.
    My headaches happen when I am dehydrated.
    Also, do you breathe correctly during exercise. In the beginning, I woild hold my breath and tense up at times which caused them temple and neck pains
  • Cave_Goose
    Cave_Goose Posts: 156 Member
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    See a doctor. This isn't normal, and you aren't going to get good advice in a forum like this.
  • ai071408
    ai071408 Posts: 22 Member
    edited January 2016
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    I go to the doctor regularly for my thyroid disorder to be tested that my medication is at a good dosage and my blood pressure has always been fine on those check ups
  • misstweedy
    misstweedy Posts: 45 Member
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    If your blood pressure's not an issue, try eating some carbs before or after exercising. Doesn't have to be a lot, a banana or granola bar should do it. I get exercise headaches if I don't refuel properly.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,370 Member
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    Obviously do see your doctor if it continues I would try eating something small and carby a while before you go because you could be depleting your brain of glucose, it's favourite fuel.

  • QueenofHearts023
    QueenofHearts023 Posts: 421 Member
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    Make sure you're not holding your breath when you exercise. I used to get headaches whenever I did strength training because I held my breath when it got hard. Other than that, all I know of is blood pressure/sugar issues like the others mentioned. I would also say go see a doctor if all of that has been ruled out.
  • LHWhite903
    LHWhite903 Posts: 208 Member
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    ai071408 wrote: »
    I go to the doctor regularly for my thyroid disorder ti be tested that my medication is at a good dosage and my blood pressure has always been fine on those check ups

    Here we go, now we're getting somewhere. See if your thyroid condition affects this problem and take a look at potential side-effects of medications. A doctor or pharmacist may be able to help. If that isn't the problem, then you can keep investigating further.
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
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    Check your electrolytes, too! Maybe replace one of those bottles of water with a sports drink like Gatorade.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,627 Member
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    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    My first thought is high blood pressure, which is a little scary. You're pretty young for that but anything is possible. If I were you, I would get my blood pressure checked.

    ditto that.... if you are POSITIVE its not that i would try a carb/protein snack after you workout.
  • ai071408
    ai071408 Posts: 22 Member
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    misstweedy wrote: »
    If your blood pressure's not an issue, try eating some carbs before or after exercising. Doesn't have to be a lot, a banana or granola bar should do it. I get exercise headaches if I don't refuel properly.

    I have tried carbs immediately after like twice and it delayed the headache but it still came. Maybe I need more carbs or to eat them before.

  • plantgrrl
    plantgrrl Posts: 436 Member
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    Are you eating enough in general? I was feeling really odd after exercise (headaches sometimes, dizzy), but I realized I was eating well below my BMR because of MFP's seemingly automatic adjustment to 1200 cals when it autosets your goals. I've cranked it up to 1500 (I'm short) + exercise calories and I'm feeling much better, and still losing weight. Just a though. But mention it to your doc next time and see what they say.
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
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    My first thought also was blood pressure.
    1. Have you told your doctor about this? Did he or she have any feedback?
    2. Do you have any way to take your blood pressure before and after working out?
    3. How much cardio are you doing, anyway?
  • ai071408
    ai071408 Posts: 22 Member
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    sheermomentum wrote: »
    My first thought also was blood pressure.
    1. Have you told your doctor about this? Did he or she have any feedback?
    2. Do you have any way to take your blood pressure before and after working out?
    3. How much cardio are you doing, anyway?

    1. I brought it up to my doctor and her only suggestions were to make sure I am drinking and eating enough, which I am
    2. I don't know of a way
    3. I used to do like an hour on the elliptical 3 times a week and thought I was just overdoing it to the point of a headache. So a while ago I switched to 30 mins on the elliptical 5ish times a week and it didn't improve anything except that my feet weren't so sore after lol
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
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    ai071408 wrote: »
    sheermomentum wrote: »
    My first thought also was blood pressure.
    1. Have you told your doctor about this? Did he or she have any feedback?
    2. Do you have any way to take your blood pressure before and after working out?
    3. How much cardio are you doing, anyway?

    1. I brought it up to my doctor and her only suggestions were to make sure I am drinking and eating enough, which I am
    2. I don't know of a way
    3. I used to do like an hour on the elliptical 3 times a week and thought I was just overdoing it to the point of a headache. So a while ago I switched to 30 mins on the elliptical 5ish times a week and it didn't improve anything except that my feet weren't so sore after lol

    hmm. I thought you might know someone who has an automatic machine at home. Maybe somebody older than you. I have one. But anyway, I'd also say if it doesn't clear up, bring it up again with your doctor, and ask her if she could recommend a specialist if she has no other suggestions. It definitely isn't normal, but sometimes you have to push doctors when the answer isn't easy for them.
  • lakshva
    lakshva Posts: 44 Member
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    Taking smalls sips of water in between the exercise might help? Some people sweat a lot during workout. Every 15mins my trainer used to tell me to get a sip of water.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
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    Do you suffer from migraines? I do, and sometimes exercises triggers them. If I feel any pressure in my head at all, strength training is a no go. Light, steady state cardio like the elliptical helps them, but if I over do it...migraine city.
  • MsDonaB
    MsDonaB Posts: 8 Member
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    I suffered from exercise-induced headaches when I first started working out "hard". My trainer suggested that I eat a snack about 15-20 minutes before I hit the gym, plenty of water during, and another snack afterwards. I started doing that and it did help. Something else that helped me was to be sure I did something to cool down after the workout before I headed home - I normally walked slowly for a few minutes until heart rate and breathing got back to normal.

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