Running to help Migraines

[vlmiller1225]

Hi! I'm curious... I have migraines, and my doctor suggested exercising ( in any capacity) to help combat those. Do any of you have migraines? And have you found that running helps those? I know that just being active instead of living a sedentary lifestyle improves health greatly... so i'm sure it can help this as well!!

[Polly2810 Graduate]

I Have to admit I have not taken as many of my super duper migraine tablets since I Have been running so who knows??

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Not really any advice to give on this...but welcome!

Info here looks interesting ?

migrainetrust.org/living-wi...

Thing is... not sure of the cause of the migraine, but.. running will help to relieve stress and strain...( you may get bodily aches and pains) but they will pass.

Start slow and stay slow... take rest days and do non impact exercises on those days too...listen to your body..it will tell you if this feels right or wrong!

Keep us posted

[vlmiller1225 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Interesting article, I will take a look at it soon!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I have been prone to migraines and definitely better now and I'm convinced it's mostly due to getting fresh air and time exercising outdoors that also keeps the bugs away. My suggestion is give it a try.... that's the only way you will find out, and you may find you love it 😎

[vlmiller1225 Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Yes! I love the fresh air (even if its super hot currently here in the US!) I'm on Week 2 of the running plan... and so far, I am enjoying it, just taking it slow and trying to get past the usual aches and pains of beginning after not exercising for years!

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to vlmiller1225]

Fantastic, huge well done to you.... and very good approach 😎

[Langley-Loper Graduate]

Hello, I am a severe migraine sufferer or rather I WAS a severe migraine sufferer. At the start of the year I was getting 2-3 per week and was hospitalised once. I either had a migraine coming on, had one or was getting over one. Enough was enough.

I saw a neurologist who put me on yet another different preventative medicine (pizotifen). This made me sleepy and I rapidly put on half a stone. So I gave myself a good talking to and started couch to 5k in the summer. Now I only get a headache (not a full blown migraine) about once a month and I'm on Week 8 of the programme.

Whether it's the running, the drugs or a combination of the two, I feel better than I have for years.

All I would say is make sure you are well hydrated before you run, not just a glass of water 10 mins before. I believe migraineurs are more vulnerable than the general population to getting dehydration headaches that can become migraines. For this reason I never run first thing in the morning as it's impossible to drink regularly while you are asleep! Instead I go a couple of hours after breakfast at the weekend or after work during the week.

Good luck and I hope this helps.