Running & Migraines

nopogal

For all the runners out there...

I've been training for a half marathon and now that i'm getting into my longer runs, I've starting getting migraines the evening after my long runs. I got one yesterday after a 15k race and two weeks ago after an 8 mile run. Anyone else have problems with migraines? All I can do is go to bed...meds don't work. I don't think I'm dehydrated as I drink plenty of water. I've tried searching the internet, but just keep getting the same answer: "dehydration."

nopogal

For all the runners out there...

I've been training for a half marathon and now that i'm getting into my longer runs, I've starting getting migraines the evening after my long runs. I got one yesterday after a 15k race and two weeks ago after an 8 mile run. Anyone else have problems with migraines? All I can do is go to bed...meds don't work. I don't think I'm dehydrated as I drink plenty of water. I've tried searching the internet, but just keep getting the same answer: "dehydration."

kelpie06

Wow, this just happened to me on Saturday! I am training for a half marathon too. I ran an hour and a half, more or less 15 k and that night I thought my head was going to explode. I was expecting my monthly visitor so I attributed it to that. I drank extra water, made sure I ate to make up for the calories I had burned, took two Advil and went to bed. The day after I was fine.

We'll see this next weekend if the same think happens after my long run. But that's interesting you had the same experience.

auntkaren

I use to get Migraines all the time up until a year ago. Imitrex I believe is what I use to take for them and it would leave within seconds and go back to normal.... I would suggest one thing before taking any medication for your migraine is to check your blood pressure before and after your run. I bought a blood pressure monitor at wal mart pharmacy for around 25 dollars that you can take your pressure by yourself. I compared it to the doctors and it is right on the mark. That is one thing that I discovered for myself that was connected to my migraines. But it wouldn't hurt to check it.

rayneenie

I have to agree with auntkaren here. I think you should speak with your doctor. Headaches are nothing to mess with.

banks1850

I used to get this after rugby practices for the 1st month after the off season (you do somewhere around 5 to 8 miles of running in a 2.5 to 3 hour rugby practice). For me it was a combination of dehydration and overheating. Not just dehydration, but also not giving your body a long enough ramp to get to the increased stress putting on it. I.E. instead of me working up to rugby workouts for a month before practice started, I just waited and then started practice. It's brutal and not very good for you, but it goes away after a few weeks (or it did for me.) I have since learned from my errors, and now start to ramp up my exercise atleast 3 weeks before I am going to start heavy physical activity (anything over 85% for more then 30 minutes at a time I would consider heavy activity.)

nopogal

I will definitely talk to my doctor about this since i know headaches are more than just a pain and nothing to take lightly. I haven't experienced these due to exercise since a couple weeks ago when I started doing longer runs. Up until my recent 8 mile+ runs (ranging anywhere from 2-7 miles), I've been fine. Odd that an extra mile will do the trick. I'll look into the blood pressure thing too.

Thanks!

alyfin

If you think you are getting enough water it's possible that you have an electrolyte imbalance. When I do my long runs I sweat so much that I lose a ton of sodium. (I literally develop salt crystals on my skin. Yuck)

I also started lifting the minimum amount of weights to strengthen my neck and shoulders. It made the headaches worse the first few weeks, but now I can do 15 miles before I get the evening headache.

iojoi

i have this trouble if i exercise
the doc told me plenty of water and too watch my blood sugar levels arent too low

elevans

Go see a good neurologist. I have bad migraines too. Unfortunately, science doesn't understand them too well yet...