Migraine

Does running for 45 minutes or more( at a 10 min/mile pace) trigger migraines for anyone? I have been running for years, and run every other day. I have noticed on my days off my headaches are sometimes less severe or absent. I don't want to give up running!

I don't know about running specifically, but exercise is unfortunately a trigger for some people.

Any sort of foot-pounding activity will trigger me as well as exertion in general.

Unfortunately, I'm having the same issue with running. I've been a runner for years, but started having migraines every day last July. I happened to be recovering from a running injury at the time, so I was only walking with short bits of running in between. I did this on days I felt good and didn't notice the exercise being a trigger. I got the migraines under control with a preventative and was back to running 20 miles a week...until February.

In February things went haywire with my preventative and it stopped working. I have definitely noticed running can be a migraine trigger - it seems associated with effort level. I'm trying to keep it really slow (11 min per mile) and see if I can just maintain a basic fitness level until I get a new preventative and (hopefully) get the migraines under control.

I consider not being able to run a major quality of life issue. I won't give it up without a serious fight! Good luck to you, too...

Hi,

We have an Ask the Clinician Question about exercise induced Migraines you can find .HERE

I hope you find it helpful.

Thanks, Nancy for the link. What is interesting is that in my case my migraines actually got worse when I took about a year off running due to a plantar fasciitis injury. I attributed this to a lack of endorphins I got while I ran. However, when I resumed my running, it didn't seem to help my migraine frequency. So I guess for now I'll keep running on days I'm migraine free- it's too good of an outlet for me to give up!