The cause of migraines is not well understood, though environmental factors and physical activity may play a role in triggering this condition if you are prone to it. This condition likely has a genetic component as well, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you are prone to migraines, consult a health care provider about any exercise regimen you plan.
Triggers
Physical factors such as intense exercise can provoke a migraine, according to the Mayo Clinic. In children, migraine symptoms often initially appear during exercise or stress or during relaxation immediately following stress. However, exercise is just one of many possible triggers for migraine sufferers of all ages. Others include stress, hormonal changes due to a menstrual cycle, foods like alcohol or monosodium glutamate, loud sounds, unusual smells, bright sunlight, changes in weather or barometric pressure, medications and alterations in sleep pattern.
Headache Diary
Keeping a headache diary will help you pinpoint your migraine triggers and determine whether exercise is one of them, according to "100 Questions and Answers About Migraine" by Katherine A. Henry and Anthony P. Bossis. It also will help you see whether you are more vulnerable to a migraine triggered by exercise at certain times, such as immediately before or after a menstrual period, or after a stressful event at work.
Worsening Symptoms
If you exercise during the early phase of a migraine attack, it is likely to make the migraine worse. Even mild movement, such as carrying groceries into your house, may have this effect because it will cause your blood vessels to dilate. This, in turn, hastens the onset of your pain.
Improving Symptoms
Exercising regularly when you are not having a migraine will actually help decrease your migraine severity and frequency, according to Henry and Bossis. That's in part because exercise increases your serotonin and endorphin levels. Low serotonin may have a role in precipitating migraines, the authors note, while endorphins reduce pain. During a migraine, your serotonin levels drop, which may cause your trigeminal system to let out neuropeptides, according to MayoClinic.com. Your trigeminal nerve is a major pain pathway in your body. Neuropeptides are substances that travel to your brain's outer covering and cause your headache pain. Exercise also helps to reduce stress, which is another migraine trigger for some people.
