Is it okay to exercise if you have migraine?

A new study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain has revealed that though exercise has various health benefits, it can be a pain triggering factor for few people suffering from migraine.

Juhi kumari | Updated: January 8, 2019 6:10 pm

Migraines is a neurological condition characterised by severe head pain. © Shutterstock

Exercise is known to have plethora of health benefits including pain management. Be it chronic back pain or a headache regular workout has been found to benefit all. However, a new study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain has come up with an interesting finding. It says that exercise can be a pain triggering factor for people suffering from migraine. However, this result is limited to few migraineurs only. So, the question is, whether or not to work out if you have migraine. Before taking on that question, let’s understand what migraine is all about.

Affecting people of all ages, migraine is a neurological condition characterised by severe head pain. Sometimes, its symptoms also include vomiting, nausea, numbness or tingling, difficulty speaking, and sensitivity to light and sound. Researchers have not yet pinned down one specific cause of migraine. Till now, genetic and environmental factors are held responsible for it. Also, it is believed that migraine may be causing due to abnormal functioning of the pain sensing mechanism which involves the nerves that supply the face, head and coverings of the brain. This further causes changes in the electrical activity of certain part of brain followed by changes in blood vessel.

Pros and cons of exercise
To know about the association between exercise and migraine, we definitely need to flip both sides of this coin.

Regular exercises balance many chemicals and functions in the body. Working out every day reduces stress and help in relaxation. Moreover, it causes brain to release endorphins which acts as body’s natural painkiller. Scientists suggest migraine sufferers to do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three days a week to reduce the intensity and frequency of the condition.

Previous studies have shown that turning your head suddenly, rotating your body quickly, or bending over can trigger or aggravate migraine symptoms. This clearly suggests that vigorous and strenuous sports and activities including running, tennis, swimming, weightlifting, football, and rowing should be avoided. This is because these physical activities dilate blood vessels inside the skull and result in primary exercise headaches.

Tips to prevent a headache after exercise:

Keep yourself hydrated before, during, and after exercise: Substantial fluid deficit in the body can trigger a migraine attacks. Therefore, always keep a water bottle with you Whenever you feel thirsty or if you are not sweating after exercising for a considerable amount of time, sip a glass of water because these are the signs of dehydration.
Eat well before you exercise: As exercise decreases the blood sugar levels, you need to have a source of energy with you. Before going for the workout, have foods with protein. Additionally, maintain a regularity in the duration between your meal and exercise. Make sure there is 2 hours of gap between these two.
Don’t forget to warm up: Jumping directly into vigorous exercise can be a triggering factor behind migraine attacks. Therefore, do indulge in slow walking or light weight lifting before attempting to do intense resistance training.
Focus on light exercises: Activities including yoga, taichi, pilates, walking, dancing, swimming, and cycling are considered safe for people suffering from migraine. Additionally, a 2008 Swedish study published by the SAGE online has revealed that indulging in indoor cycling at least three times a week can result in improved capacity with no deterioration in migraine status.

Published: January 8, 2019 5:20 pm | Updated:January 8, 2019 6:10 pm

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