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It seems every time my girlfriend goes for a 20-40min run she gets a bad headache shortly afterwards. She stays well hydrated before and after her run and keeps her electrolytes up by drinking Gatorade. Sometimes the headache is so bad it makes her vomit and keeps her bedridden. What's going on? How can she keep this from happening?

2006-06-11 18:33:57 · 3 answers · asked by dawestcoastboy 3 in Health Diet & Fitness

She doesn't do much exercise other than her weekly run. She is in reasonably decent shape.

2006-06-11 18:35:57 · update #1

And yes, she enjoys running and has good running shoes.

2006-06-11 19:26:04 · update #2

3 answers

It sounds like she has migraines which in some people can be triggered by strenuous exercise. She should see a doctor about her migraines. Have her get checked for allergies.

In addition to talking with a doctor there are a number of things to try. Different migraine suffers report various "preventive treatments" work. (You can argue about the placebo effect, but if it relieves suffering without needs meds. Do you really care?)
1)Regular daily, but less intensive workouts.
2)Try giving her gentle a back rub, or foot massage after the run.
3)Meditation, or yoga before, and after the run.
4)Experiment with a cold or hot shower after the run.
5)Take a benadryl, aspirin, or caffeine before the run.

2006-06-11 19:08:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

I have suffered from migraines for years that went undiagnosed. This could be happening to your girlfriend. The hallmarks of migraines are: pain on one side of the head; sensitivity to light, sound and/or (for me) strong odors (think paint thinner, polyuerethane, etc.); sometimes accompanied by visual symptoms and often nausea. Migraines are more common in women, and hormone fluctuations can play a role. Has she recently started birth control pills? When I was on them, I had migraines 4-5 times a week. If it is a migraine, I have found Exedrin migraine to work well. I was on prescription Imitrex for a while, but was concerned about possible side effects. I have also found a lot of relief by going to the chiropractor. It is good that your girlfriend is going to the doctor. Headaches can have a lot of causes and some, although rare, can be serious. Best to rule those out. Hope she feels better soon!

2016-03-15 02:56:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

My first concern would be her blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause migraines which is what it sounds like she is experiencing. They have portable digital blood pressure cuffs that she can use while she is running. Some actually alarm when it gets to a critical level.

Another way to regulate without the cuff is the old school way. If you can hear your heart beating it is time to slow down. When you are able to hear it the pressure is too high. Hope this helps.

Another home remedy to help with the migraines is to heat a moist hand towel in the microwave. You want it hot enough that you can still hold it in your hands comfortably but warm enough to hold the heat for a while. Have her lay her head back on a pillow in a dark room. Place the towel over her forehead and the bridge of her nose. In about 20 minutes the migraine will be gone. You may have to reheat the towel for her in between to keep it warm for the entire 20 minutes.

2006-06-11 18:46:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

She could be dehyrdated. The first sign of dehyration after exercise is headache. Tell her to drink more water before during and after.

2006-06-23 11:50:56 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ Jae ♥ 4 · 0 0

i know this.
im an athlete.
she's not breathing the right way. tell her to take deep breaths and on her breaks to inhail hold 2sec and exhail.
also drink more water.
this will help.
trust me.

2006-06-22 16:23:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Some people hate running, and will do anything to get out of it. Maybe its psychological?

2006-06-11 18:38:25 · answer #6 · answered by :Phil 5 · 0 2

either its because shes hittting the ground to hard( is she wearing shoes w/ shox?) if not, it would be smart to get her some, orrrr shes running to hard

2006-06-11 18:39:33 · answer #7 · answered by Scooby Doo 2 · 0 0

water water water....too much Gatorade is a bad thing

2006-06-22 16:35:49 · answer #8 · answered by sunnykayday 2 · 0 0

may be over strain

2006-06-22 05:22:25 · answer #9 · answered by sa 7 · 0 0

get her blood pressure checked. there could be a number of things, but that's probably the main thing. i get them if i run too hard & it's hot outside.
here's some more helpful information on symptoms, causes, etc. and i hope it helps you!
The most common types of headaches usually are not serious but may occur again and again.

--Tension headaches -- the most common type of headache and are episodes of constant aching, tightness, pressure, and pain around the forehead, temples, or back of the head and neck. Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the head rather than just one side.
Tension headaches usually do not stop a person from doing his or her regular activities. These headaches usually do not cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light or noise. A tension headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Some people experience chronic tension headaches, which means they get a headache on 15 or more days a month.
Tension headaches are related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck or head because of stress, anxiety, fatigue, hunger, anger, poor posture, or overexertion.
Treatment for tension headaches usually includes aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonprescription pain relievers. Aspirin should not be given to anyone age 20 years or younger because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease that most often affects children. Prescription medications, such as antidepressants, may be needed to treat tension headaches. Additional therapies, including stress management or biofeedback, may reduce or prevent tension headaches

--Cluster headaches -- these are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. The headaches appear suddenly and cause severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, along with a watery eye and nasal congestion on the affected side of the head. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. Although there is no cure for cluster headaches, medications can reduce the frequency and duration of the painful headaches.
--Migraine headaches -- Approximately one-third of people who have migraine headaches first began having them as teenagers. are painful, sometimes disabling headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. These throbbing headaches usually occur on only one side of the head, although the pain can shift from one side of the head to the other, or can occur on both sides at the same time. Migraines involve changes in chemicals and blood vessels in the brain, which trigger pain signals leading to headache and other symptoms.
Migraine headaches tend to recur. A migraine headache typically lasts 4 to 24 hours but in some cases can last up to 3 days. Some people have symptoms, such as visual disturbances, that occur before a headache starts. These symptoms are called a migraine aura.
Some people have several headaches per month; others have headaches much less often. Treatment usually includes medications to prevent a migraine from occurring or to stop a migraine once it begins. In some people, migraines may be triggered by certain foods or smells. Eliminating exposure to these triggers may stop the headaches.

Here's a list of common causes of headaches include:

--Alcohol, caffeine, or other drug use or withdrawal.
--Changes in the levels of chemicals in the body (neurotransmitters).
--Coughing or sneezing.
--Dehydration.
--Dental problems or procedures, such as pain from grinding the teeth or from a root canal.
--Eating or drinking cold foods and fluids.
--Emotional stress.
--Exposure to smoke or fumes from chemicals, including carbon monoxide.
--Eyestrain.
--Fever.
--High altitude. Lower oxygen levels at high altitudes can cause headaches.
--Medical procedures, such as the aftereffects of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
--Medications. Many medications can cause headaches.
--Muscle strain in the neck, upper back, or shoulder muscles.
--Upper respiratory infections.

If you have headaches, with these serious symptoms, definitely consult a doc!
Although rare, a headache may be a sign of a serious illness. Other symptoms, such as vomiting, dizziness, or changes in vision, may also be present. The following serious illnesses or injuries can cause headaches.
--A head injury:
--Injury to the brain
--Fracture of the skull
--Bleeding in or around the brain
--Brain tumor, which causes swelling within the brain.
--Infection in the brain (encephalitis) or of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
--Stroke, a problem that occurs when a blood vessel (artery) that supplies blood to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot.
--A rupture of a blood vessel with bleeding in or around the brain (aneurysm)

Other health conditions that can cause or contribute to headaches include:

--Alcohol, caffeine, or drug abuse, overuse, or withdrawal.
--Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread muscle and soft tissue pain and tenderness.
--Glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the nerves at the back of the eye.
--High blood pressure (hypertension).
--High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
--Infection in the sinuses, such as sinusitis or an abscess.
--Inflammatory problems , such as arthritis, lupus, or temporal arteritis.
--Kidney disease, which causes wastes to build up in the blood.
--Low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia) or overactivity of the gland that helps control the release of calcium into the blood (hyperparathyroidism).
--Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by certain types of ticks.
--Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
--Problems with pregnancy, such as severe high blood pressure (preeclampsia).
--Sleep problems, such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
--Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism (if you want to learn more about thyroid, please contact me...I have seceral best answers for thyroid problems)
**PLEASE NOTE**
Headache with signs of serious illness!!

When a headache, vomiting, fever, or a seizure occurs along with another serious illness, immediate medical care is needed. Signs of serious illness include:

--A sudden, severe headache.
--Confusion or extreme irritability.
--Extreme sleepiness.
--New and different skin rash or severe bruises.
--New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.
--Persistent nausea or vomiting.
--Rapid, difficult breathing.
--Severe neck stiffness or pain.
--Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
--Severe pain.
--Unsteadiness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).
Although uncommon, a headache with signs of a serious illness may be a sign of:

--An infection in or around the brain, such as encephalitis, meningitis, or a brain abscess.
--A momentary blockage of a blood vessel (transient ischemic attack, or TIA) in the brain.
--Rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.

2006-06-20 15:23:24 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1 0

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