Exercise-induced Migraines

On Jan. 25, 1998, during Super Bowl XXXII, football running back Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos knew that he was in trouble. His vision abruptly blurred, signaling a migraine attack. He left the field, took some migraine medication, and waited out the second quarter and halftime show. His migraine responded quickly to the medication, and he returned to lead the Broncos to a 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Exercise-induced Migraines

Dr. Craig Nadelson of the Indiana University Center for Sports Medicine, in a 2006 article published in "Current Sports Medicine Reports," warns that if you are getting headaches during or after an exercise session, you need to determine if you are suffering from exercise-induced migraines or a different medical condition.

Causes and Triggers

Migraines are a neurological condition resulting in excruciating headaches. You probably inherited your migraines, as they tend to run in families. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 12 percent of the U.S. population gets migraines. The exact mechanism which results in migraines is still being debated by scientists, but one model suggests that nerve fibers within the brain's blood vessel walls activate, causing the blood vessels to widen or narrow. Migraine headaches are set off by a wide variety of personal "triggers," including weather changes, stress, certain foods and exercise.

Migraine Symptoms

People suffering from exercise-induced migraines report the same symptoms as other migraine sufferers: pounding head pain, visual disturbances such as blurring vision or flashing lights; fatigue; sensitivity to light, noise, and odors; nausea and vomiting; sinus pain; difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Not every migraine patient has the same collection of symptoms. If you frequently experience any of these symptoms during and after exercise, you may be having exercise-induced migraines.

Getting Treatment

Record your exercise-induced headaches in a notebook, including any additional potential triggers that may have exacerbated a headache. Ask family members if other relatives suffered recurring headaches. Visit a neurologist and bring your headache record with you. If your neurologist decides that you are experiencing migraines, you will receive prescriptions for medications that can shorten or stop a migraine. You will also be given advice on avoiding your personal migraine triggers.

Continuing Exercise

Some migraine sufferers with exercise-induced migraines stop exercising. A 2009 study in the "Headache" journal makes suggestions for a safe exercise program. Twenty-six migraine patients did 20 minutes of moderate intensity indoor cycling, three times a week. They engaged in a 15-minute warm-up period, since insufficient warm-up time can trigger exercise-induced migraines. After cycling, they entered a 5-minute cool down period. Patients were repeatedly reminded to avoid stress, get regular sleep, and maintain good nutrition and hydration.

Six patients dropped out of the study for reasons unrelated to migraines, but the remaining patients showed improved oxygen intake and fewer migraines at the end of three months. The study suggests that a moderate intensity aerobic exercise regimen may allow patients with exercise-induced migraines to continue exercising.

Exercise-Induced Migraines