Exercise induced headache?

[littledrop]

Hello, fellow runners! I have a quick question for you:

How soon does a headache have to begin for it to be classed as exercise induced? I frequently develop headaches an hour or two after my morning run, and I'm getting a bit concerned! Today's headache sent me to bed for a couple of hours earlier this afternoon, and it's only just beginning to lift (thank you, codeine!).

I plan to see my doctor, but I thought I'd ask here, too. Does anybody else experience this? Have you found any way to overcome it?

Comments

[gnomad]

Oh, eeep! I've never experienced this, but the first thing I thought was whether or not you're getting enough to drink? Are you particularly sensitive to dehydration headaches?

[littledrop]

Hey! Thank you for commenting. :D I am very, very jealous that you've never experienced this!

I ... probably am. I get very, very tired if I don't drink water during the day, and it sometimes can lead to headaches. I run at 6.30am; my routine is pretty much roll out of bed, get dressed, mouthful of water, stretch, run, drink lots water. Maybe I should get up earlier and drink more before I run? Sigh.

[ex_wicker969]

I don't think getting up earlier is gonna help -- I always had to drink water heavily starting from the previous morning before an early morning run. I heard somewhere that it takes a while to process the water into where it's needed, and even if this is a total urban myth it made sense in my brain. Lots of water the night before a fitness test made a huge difference in my scores, for example.

[littledrop]

I drank a LOT more thanks to the advice here. I mean, I was drinking several glasses, so I thought I was getting enough, but apparently not.

And I did notice a difference in performance, as you say. I even worked on my speed a little, which was amazing!

Thank you!

[gnomad]

Maybe focus on drinking water before bed as well and see if it helps?

[littledrop]

I think it did. I've upped my water consumption considerably thanks to the advice here. Litres of the stuff, not glasses. :) And ... no headache!

Thank you!

[dancing_serpent]

I got a tip from a runner friend who told me to drink a big glass of water or better yet, water with apple juice, wait half an hour and then go running. Seemes to work for me, but I don't usually get headaches at all.

[littledrop]

Well, I didn't try the apple juice because it wasn't to hand, but I did try extra water and a little peanut butter, which I remember somebody mentioning a while back. And it seemed to work! I took everybody's advice, really - ate and drank a lot more than I have been. So hopefully that'll kick the headache.

Thank you so much! It was really becoming excruciating.

[lyras]

I agree that it could be dehydration related, but also, are you eating enough? I went through a period of having horrible blood sugar dives after exercise (symptoms were headache, achiness and general feeling of weakness), and eventually figured out that my problem was not eating enough after my runs.

Hope you figure it out - it sounds miserable!

[littledrop]

I might have figured it out. I basically took everybody's advice! Drank more the day before, drank more before the run, ate a little peanut butter before the run, drank more after the run, ate a LOT more after the run. And I think it worked! Although it'll need another couple of tests to be sure.

I officially love everybody in this community. Thank you so much!