Your body responds to exercise in different ways and one of those responses might be a headache. Using a treadmill for walking or running is a beneficial cardiovascular workout, but like other types of exercise, can leave you with a headache. Speak with your doctor about the best treatment options for your pain. You might be able to alleviate your symptoms with a few workout adjustments.
Symptoms
Ohio Health describes an exercise headache as a throbbing pain on both sides of your head that occurs during or after exercise. Your headache might include symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, neck stiffness, fainting or double vision. These secondary symptoms might be a sign of a larger problem and require a doctor's care.
Dehydration
One possible cause of a headache after treadmill exercise is dehydration. If your exercise intensity if high, you have probably worked up a sweat and diminished your bodily fluids, and if you have not replaced fluids through drinking water, you can experience head pain. Sports drinks will aid in replenishing lost electrolytes. Avoid caffeinated drinks, which lead to further dehydration.
Blood Pressure
In 2006, the Department of Neurology in Athens, Greece, studied the effects of treadmill stress-testing on headaches. Researchers found a correlation between increases in diastolic blood pressure, the pressure in your arteries when the heart relaxes and headaches. During exercise, your blood pressure will increase slightly. The top number, systolic, typically increases more than the bottom number, diastolic. The participants in the study who developed headaches showed a greater increase in diastolic pressure than those who did not have discomfort.
Posture
If you enjoy watching television while using your treadmill and your treadmill is positioned away from your television, you m bighte turning your head to view your favorite program. This poor posture can result in neck pain and headache. Another cause for poor posture is looking down at the belt in an attempt to improve balance. While this might work for balance, it causes strain on your neck, which could lead to a headache. These posture problems easily can be corrected by looking straight ahead when using a treadmill and keeping your chin parallel to the floor.
Pounding
Another cause of your treadmill headache can be the pounding of your feet on the belt. This jarring for 30 minutes or more could lead to a headache. One way to correct this is to purchase new shoes that have supportive and cushioned soles. You also could switch to a different treadmill that might have greater shock absorbency in the deck, or use a conscious effort to gently place your feet onto the belt to alleviate the pounding sensation.
