Exercise-induced migraines

[niq]

I have had stretches in my life where I get migraines about 1-2x per week. They're back, specifically linked to working out . Does anyone else struggle with this? I talked to my PCP and she had some suggestions:

• Warm up and cool down for at least 15 minutes each workout
• Hydrate way more than you think you need to, and add salt to your water/gatorade/whatever
• Take potassium and riboflavin supplements
• Wear contact lenses as little as possible (basically, don't put them on until it's time to work out, and take them off right away).

If you have issues with migraines are there other things you do to try and ward them off?

[sadlebred]

I was on a preventative for years. This may be your best bet. It should work for exercise induced migraines, too. Have you talked to your doctor about a preventative medication? There are plenty that have almost no side effects.

I also suggest:
1. If you feel a migraine coming on, lower the intensity of your workout to "recovery" pace.
2. Try to keep cool. Get one of those cooling towels, an extra fan, ice in a sock, whatever it takes.
3. Take your abortive medicine the SECOND you feel it coming on. Not one second later. Stop it in its tracks.

[daisyduck]

I definitely get these, mostly when doing a strenuous workout (running) in the heat (75-80+ degrees). I can definitely feel them coming on and if I stop running, walk home, and cool off they will generally go away. When that happens I stay very heat sensitive all day and even a hot shower can trigger a migraine if I'm not careful.

I manage mine by switching my runs to the morning when it is cooler, so it is only warm enough to cause them in the hottest part of the summer. If I want to run or do some other activity in the heat I will preventively take Excedrin and that will keep them from coming on at all, or keep them pretty minimal.

Not sure if that is helpful, but that's been my experience. I talked to my Doctor at one point and was prescribed a migraine med and a preventative med, but the preventative med didn't play well with my birth control (made it ineffective) so I never took it.

I also wear contacts at all times and that is definitely not a contributor for me. If you think that is part of the problem, I'd get your prescription checked.

[cuadrado]

I'd check in on your magnesium intake.

Do you eat a plant-based diet?

[sassystace]

I've also had periods of my life where I struggled with exercise induced migraines. For me they were linked with putting in too strenuous of an effort, not gradually cooling down from hard activity, exercising in higher temperature (above 75) and having the sun in my eyes. Things that helped--hydration, gatorade, caffiene after activity, longer/gradual cool downs, excedrin migraine, naps. It sucks.