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.