Running is a Headache

Awhile back I mentioned I needed to do some research on exercise headaches, because I have been getting some killer headaches after my runs. I expected to find stuff like, everybody gets them, so drink more water and take an aspirin...Unfortunately, I was a bit dismayed at the level of seriousness of the articles I read.

Of course, there are two categories: the non-serious, and the serious. I tend to think mine fall into the non-serious category based on what I read. I have a history of headaches, I don't vomit or lose consciousness (although going to bed is the only way to get rid of them). I did see one page list nausea under the symptoms for the serious, not just vomiting, and I do get nauseous, every time. Everything said that most headaches are caused from working out in heat and humidity, but mine started after it cooled off. Of course, because I physically HATE being cold.

My running is officially on hiatus. Which totally sucks because it's going to be 60 degrees today. At 8am it was already 50. I want to run today so freaking bad. I KNEW running was going to kill me.

I'm going to go back through my blog to see how much I noted the headaches...I know I haven't been doing yoga much lately, but hopefully I can still do it without a headache. It seems like I did have one after a yoga recently. *sigh*

There were some good tips that I would like to try, but I feel pretty strongly about seeing a doctor first.

Cooling down - before I started trying the 5K, there was a built in cool down period in my plan. When I was trying to do a 5K, I usually ended up stopping and walking some distance home. But once I've been able to run farther, I don't cool down. I even wondered if that may be the problem previously.

Taking an ibuprofen before workout - I don't take ibuprofen, but there have been times when I have taken acetaminophen before running. I couldn't say now how much that helped. The ibuprofen suggestion is based on the idea that it is a blood vessel issue causing the headaches.

Eating after workout - Ahh, another strong possibility. I know you are supposed to eat within an hour of working out. A lot of times I was really good about making a milkshake, or having a sugar drink, or sometimes actually eating immediately after a run. But, I haven't been doing that lately....when I finish a run, I come in and sit down, exhausted (no cool down), and I don't get up for quite awhile. I definitely am not getting a sugar or starch boost within an hour.

With all the notes I make, and all the bloggage, I wish I had kept a better record of this..Because when I think about cooling down, and raising the blood sugar, I think those are most likely my problem areas. If you've ever been around me when I am really, really hungry, and can't find food, you know I am strongly affected by blood sugar drops. Although, usually I just get violent and unable to think straight, not so much with the headaches.

Anyway, I'm hoping I can skip seeing my doctor and just get referred to a specialist, but even so, the tests will be expensive. I'll have to wait a little while before I can take this on. So, I'll see what I can do in the way of yoga for now, and will continue to assume there is nothing serious wrong...but not push my luck either!