Exercise Can Help You Beat Headaches
By Clare Kittredge | Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH
Afraid to exercise during a headache? Don't be: Unless you have a rare condition, exercise and keeping fit can help you manage your headaches.
You may think exercise and headaches don’t mix, but Nabih Ramadan, MD, a neurologist at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, and chair of the National Headache Foundation (NHF) Education and Biomedical Research Committee, says that’s a myth.
While exercise may trigger headaches, often known as exertional headaches, in a small minority of patients, most people with chronic migraines can actually ease the pain and frequency of their headaches by keeping fit, notes Dr. Ramadan. “People with exercise-induced headaches have a very rare condition, and using that to tell headache patients not to exercise is a myth we don’t want to propagate.”
Exercise Tips for People Who Have Headaches
Here are a few exercise tips for people with chronic headaches:
Exercise regularly. Go for a regular workout (aerobic exercise such as jogging, bicycling, or rowing) at least three times a week. Maintain a constant heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute for at least 10 to 15 minutes during each session.
Work out in the morning. Exercise in the morning, not the evening, so you can wind down during the hours before bed. “Otherwise, you could cause changes in your sleeping habits which could induce headaches,” Ramadan says.
Avoid high-impact exercise during a headache. When you do have a headache, avoid jarring, high-impact exercise like running or kickboxing because it’s likely to aggravate the pain. Intense exercise will also cause you to sweat, leading to dehydration, which can worsen a headache as well, Ramadan says.
Link to full article here
By Clare Kittredge | Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH
Afraid to exercise during a headache? Don't be: Unless you have a rare condition, exercise and keeping fit can help you manage your headaches.
You may think exercise and headaches don’t mix, but Nabih Ramadan, MD, a neurologist at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, and chair of the National Headache Foundation (NHF) Education and Biomedical Research Committee, says that’s a myth.
While exercise may trigger headaches, often known as exertional headaches, in a small minority of patients, most people with chronic migraines can actually ease the pain and frequency of their headaches by keeping fit, notes Dr. Ramadan. “People with exercise-induced headaches have a very rare condition, and using that to tell headache patients not to exercise is a myth we don’t want to propagate.”
Exercise Tips for People Who Have Headaches
Here are a few exercise tips for people with chronic headaches:
Exercise regularly. Go for a regular workout (aerobic exercise such as jogging, bicycling, or rowing) at least three times a week. Maintain a constant heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute for at least 10 to 15 minutes during each session.
Work out in the morning. Exercise in the morning, not the evening, so you can wind down during the hours before bed. “Otherwise, you could cause changes in your sleeping habits which could induce headaches,” Ramadan says.
Avoid high-impact exercise during a headache. When you do have a headache, avoid jarring, high-impact exercise like running or kickboxing because it’s likely to aggravate the pain. Intense exercise will also cause you to sweat, leading to dehydration, which can worsen a headache as well, Ramadan says.
Link to full article here
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