What should you know about migraine after workout?

Exercise can coincide with dehydration, heat, low blood glucose from missed meals, poor sleep, or a rapid increase in effort. A migraine may bring throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, dizziness, or vertigo. Exercise-related headache can also have causes other than migraine, especially when it is the first episode, reaches maximum intensity quickly, or feels different from earlier attacks. A clinician uses the timing and associated symptoms to decide what evaluation is needed.

Stop the workout, move somewhere cool and quiet, and sip fluids. Eat a small meal if you missed one and rest without driving if vision, balance, or alertness is affected. Keep a record of effort, heat, food, fluids, sleep, and symptoms. Return to training gradually only after recovery, with a warm-up and sensible pacing. Discuss recurring attacks with a healthcare professional before changing medicines.

Seek emergency care for a thunderclap headache, fainting, confusion, weakness, trouble speaking, loss of vision, fever with a stiff neck, chest pain, or repeated vomiting. Obtain prompt medical advice for a first exertional headache, a headache after injury, or a pattern that is becoming more frequent or intense.

Ask whether the pattern fits migraine, which warning symptoms change the urgency, and how to plan hydration, meals, warm-up, and recovery. Discuss safe acute treatment and whether your exercise routine needs modification.