Exercise can prevent migraines but exercising during an attack can aggravate symptoms
If you’ve experienced a migraine, you know it can be downright debilitating. But you might be wondering if it’s a good idea to hit the gym or turn on your favorite YouTube workout video when your symptoms strike. After all, no pain, no gain, right? Wrong. Two experts warn against exercising during a migraine.
What Is a Migraine?
Migraines normally occur on a single side of the head and so are more serious than a strain headache, mentioned Sara Crystal, MD, neurologist, and headache specialist in the NY Headache Center and Cove medical adviser. She said that migraines often last longer, and usually need a treatment program. Migraines are accompanied with signs like nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity. It is also possible to have a migraine with air, meaning that you encounter neurological symptoms like bright spots or stripes of light, loss of vision, and even slurred speech. Pinpointing the specific cause of migraines is hard, but a few causes include hormones, stress, and certain meals – and many of these causes differ from person to person.
“As a general rule of thumb, don’t exercise if you’re in the middle of a migraine, since it could make the pain worse. However, when you’re symptom-free, exercise can be effective at preventing future migraines.”
Here’s a stat for you: three times as many mature women as guys suffer from migraines. Why? Dr. Crystal explained that hormonal changes play a substantial role. “Migraine incidence rises at the beginning of menstruation. Menstrual migraine is extremely common and occurs when estrogen levels drop,” she clarified. It’s unknown just how estrogen affects migraine,”but we do understand that estrogen influences not only the susceptibility to migraine, but also the perception and processing of pain.”
Exercise Can Prevent Migraines
“One of the best methods to stop migraines is to handle stress in your life,” Dr. Crystal explained, noting it’s well-documented that increasing aerobic exercise can help alleviate migraines, predictably since it’s helpful with stress relief. “Using exercise, it can be a significant effect. Besides releasing endorphins, which reduce pain, exercise can decrease stress and improve sleep, which in turn can help decrease headache frequency.”
Elizabeth Barchi, MD, clinical assistant professor of expert in sports medicine and surgery at NYU Langone Health, agreed. She stated that working out regularly can possibly aid with chronic problems too, not just migraines, though exercise can cause headaches because of exertion and improved blood pressure. It’s usually a fantastic idea to begin with cardios, he advised, and build your pulse from that point. However,”getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and regular exercise can help reduce chronic headaches if you are somebody who’s susceptible to them,” she noted. “Especially tension headaches”
Can I Work Out If I Have a Migraine?
No. “As a general rule of thumb, don’t exercise if you’re in the middle of a migraine, since it could make the pain worse,” Dr. Crystal explained. “However, when you’re symptom-free, exercise can be effective at preventing future migraines.” Dr. Barchi emphasized the value of rest if you are going via a migraine. Don’t head to the fitness center; instead, try to deal with it, she said. Avoid.
Other Preventive Techniques and Therapy For Migraines
Preventive steps and treatment differs for everybody, but if over-the-counter pain medicine doesn’t work for you, Dr. Crystal explained that some of the typical preventive tactics incorporate blood-pressure-lowering medicines like beta blockers, anti-seizure medications like gabapentin along with topiramate, along with antidepressants. Concerning therapy, Botox is effective for individuals with chronic migraine, ” she said. “It is a collection of shots into the forehead, temples, back of the shoulders and head, given in the office. Insurance companies typically need that patients fail at least a couple of the conventional oral preventative drugs mentioned before paying for the treatment.” The FDA also approved a first-of-its-kind monthly injection at May 2018, that works to block calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a molecule involved in migraine strikes.
In the very first sign of a migraine, Dr. Crystal recommends taking drugs like a triptan, if prescribed for you, and also to use an anti-nausea medicine if needed. Anti-inflammatories may be used in conjunction with triptans, ” she said. Obviously, consult your physician and also treat your symptoms before trying to get on your workout. The treadmill and Course FitSugar will wait till tomorrow.
