Exercise-induced headaches - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

fcarea · 06-22-2004, 12:51 PM

Does anyone here experience migraine headaches whenever you exercise? I get this terrible throbbing on the left side of my head. It only started about three weeks ago. Actually, now it almost seems to be getting better, but there is still a throbbing. I saw the doctor about it just under two weeks ago about this and he said to come back in two weeks if it still persisted. I’m not sure whether to go back or not as it is appearing to get better. Any advice?

Thanks,
fcarea

Miranda's Mom · 07-26-2004, 01:09 AM

fcarea,

I too suffer from migraines. I have complex migraines. They are triggered by anything and everything. I have found that exercising is alot more trouble than it's worth. I have severe pounding in just trying to pull the weeds out of the flower beds. I have PTC (Pseudotumor Cerebri). After trying all of the migraine meds with little to no relief, they did a spinal tap. Come to find out that PTC means that there is too much cerebospinal fluid which causes the pounding. Even the diertics that they prescribed, I cannot take because I'm allergic to them both (Diamox and Topomax). Have you tried diertics? It might be worth a try. Also, definitely have a follow up with the Neurologist.

Good Luck!

Miranda's Mom

monkeygirl777 · 07-26-2004, 03:56 AM

I get this too but when I work out too hard. Slow down, drink lots more water, and then gradually build up over time. The headaches are gone now but if I push myself too hard I do still get them.

fcarea · 08-08-2004, 10:11 PM

Thanks guys! I would have replied earlier, but I didn't find your responses until today! This is strange. You see, exercise-induced headaches started to happen suddenly, and only lasted for a short time (a few weeks). Now I can exercise without any problem. I did take Advil for a while when the headache instances were common, but have since stopped and have not had any problems since. I did see a doctor about this and he told be to come back in a month or so if they persisted. They did not, so I guess I'll stop worrying about it unless I notice anything else.

Thanks again

,
fcarea

Zerox · 09-04-2004, 05:53 AM

I just posted this to another thread. But I thought you guys should read it to so I am going to post it here as well.

Cheers:
Howdy... I came across this site because I have been looking into headaches and hypertension, high blood pressure.

What you are experiencing happens to me.

I am in pretty good shape as well. I have done sit ups, push ups and curls at home on a regular bassis for years. About 3 months ago I decided to join a gym. Within a week I began to experience the exact same thing, only during resistance training. Mainly arms and chest, pushing and pulling. Wow do those headaches hurt.

I told my wife that it felt like blood was being forced up the back of my next into my head. My wife made me go to see the doctor. Who made me go see a cardiologist. I got hooked up to a machine and they made my heart rate get near 200, no pain because no resistance. The cardiologist told me that my blood pressure slightly raises during exercise. Also called exercised induced hypertension. The raised blood pressure mixed with the excess strain of lifting the weight, forces the blood at extreme pressure up the back of our necks. Ouch. Stop doing that!

What the cardiologist said to do was to back off on the amount of weight and slowly work up to it. I said I didn't fell like I was doing to much. He said I still needed to back off, or not do resistance training at all. He said if I continued to push the way I was going I could do some serious damage including an aneurism.

He also mentioned that I need to keep an eye on my blood pressure. That within the next 10 to 15 years I might need to go on blood pressure medicine. I am 34.

So go get your blood pressure checked, see where your at. If its high do the following: Lose any extra weight, Cut your alcohol to two drinks a day or less, Start regular arobic exercise and Eat less salt.

Hope this helps.

Stay healthy.