Migraine is common in many Arab countries. The US alone has 39 million migraine sufferers. There is no cure yet, but some ways can reduce migraine attacks instead of using painkillers, like ibuprofen, aspirin, and changing certain behaviors:
- Exercise.
- Yoga.
- Stretching.
- Sleep quality.
- Staying hydrated.
In this article, we'll see how exercise affects migraines, how to exercise safely if you have them, and what to avoid while working out.
How do exercises reduce migraine attacks?
If you suffer from migraine attacks that seriously affect your life, you probably look for an exercise routine to help reduce migraine attacks. Here are some aerobic exercises that might help you with that.
In a 2011 study, researchers compared whether relaxation or exercise helps prevent migraine attacksThey found that exercise is more effective than relaxation, especially regular aerobic workouts. The trial showed attacks dropped by about 0.6, along with less pain.
The research concluded that doing aerobic exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural painkillers, so it reduces the pain from migraine attacks. Activities like biking, walking, and swimming are examples.
How to exercise safely
There are some steps that help cut down migraines while exercising. Before starting a sport regularly, check with your doctor about any risks that might affect your case. Tips to avoid migraine attacks during exercise include:
- Eat well: Have a light snack an hour or 3 hours before your workout. It should have carbs and a small amount of protein and healthy fats like Greek yogurt with berries or banana slices. Also, a post-workout meal is important.
- Drink water: The amount of water your body gets before and during exercise affects any headache you might get during your workout, especially if it lasts more than an hour.
- Focus on warming up: Do warm-up exercises for at least 5 minutes, like walking a bit.
- Find activities that suit you: You should enjoy your workout. You can try different exercises like walking, cycling, jogging, yoga, or stretching.
Does exercise cause migraine attacks?
Some workouts can trigger migraines in some girls. Usually, these are high-intensity exercises. Or the headache might come from overexertion, a high heart rate, blood pressure changes, poor ventilation, or high temperature.
Should you exercise during migraine attacks?
Exercising during a migraine depends on the cause of the migraine, and whether your health condition allows it or not. But in general, it's not recommended to exercise during a migraine attack because it usually worsens the headache and messes up blood circulation.
When to see a specialist or doctor
If you keep getting migraines during exercise, you should see a doctor. Migraines could be a sign of another health condition. You can start by checking your blood pressure before, during, and after exercise, since that might be the cause.
Adding exercise to your daily routine can help reduce how often and how bad headache attacks are. But if you don't know which exercises are right for you, you can ask one of the trainers at Fitness Garage, to get a workout plan made just for you and your condition.
