Why does my head hurt after sports and what to do about it

For many people, when running for a long time,"runner's euphoria" - they seem to get drunk and begin to experience inexplicable joy. This usually occurs in the second hour of continuous physical activity. For some people, experiencing this unusual sensation is the main motivator for exercising. However, there are also men and women who, when running for a long time or other physical activity, begin to feel a headache. In some people, this is an unpleasant pulsation on both sides of the head, in others it is something similar to a migraine. Recently, clinical anatomy professor Adam Taylor talked about why running causes headaches and what can be done about it.

Some people get headaches after running, and there is an explanation for this

Content

• 1 Which people get headaches after running
• Why does my head hurt after sports?
  • 2.1 Dilation of blood vessels
  • 2.2 Hot weather
  • 2.3 Training at high altitude
  • 2.4 Hereditary migraine
• How to get rid of a headache after running

What kind of people get headaches after running

According to Science Alert, for the first time headachesduring exercise were described in 1968. Unpleasant sensations can occur not only after running. Some people complain about them even after lifting weights, having sex, and even after a long sneeze. Usually the pain lasts for a few minutes, but it also happens that it does not let go for several days.

Typically, headaches after running are felt by young people under 30 years old.

Statistics show that headache afterrunning worries people between the ages of 22 and 40. In about 80% of cases, men complain of discomfort. But why exactly they, no one knows - you need to conduct research.

See also: Why do many people get motion sickness in transport

Why does my head hurt after sports?

People's bodies are different. Also, each person trains in different conditions. Therefore, there is no single cause of a headache after sports - there are several probable causes.

Dilation of blood vessels

When a person plays sports, the blood flow tohis brain increases - he needs more oxygen. However, along with oxygen, the blood delivers carbon dioxide and heat to the brain, which must be eliminated. During sports, the easiest way for the body to do this is by dilating blood vessels, which causes pain.

As a rule, headache occurs due to vasodilation

Hot weather

It often happens that a headache bothershot weather. In hot conditions, the brain heats up doubly, and it cannot dissipate heat through the skin by sweating. Again, vasodilation comes to the rescue - blood flow increases and excess heat leaves. And the expansion of blood vessels, as we have already understood, causes discomfort.

High altitude training

Sometimes people complain of headaches whentraining in mountains or other high places. In this case, unpleasant sensations arise due to the fact that at high altitude the brain needs to receive more blood with oxygen. Pressure is put on the vessels and pain occurs.

If possible, it is better for people not to train at high altitude, and even more so in hot weather.

hereditary migraine

Headaches after sports are often reported by people who also regularly suffer from migraines. This must be due to the fact that one of the causes of migraine may be vasodilation.

See also: What causes a migraine - perhaps the reason is brain abnormalities

How to get rid of a headache after running

Usually caused by the abovecause the headache goes away on its own. This usually happens within a few minutes or a couple of hours. In order for the pain to subside, the body needs to relax - the heart rate should return to normal, and the brain's need for oxygen should decrease. If the pain does not go away for a longer time, specialist Adam Taylor recommends taking a pain reliever.

To prevent headaches while exercisingsports, it is necessary to make sure that physical activity does not become a surprise for the body. Therefore, if you have not been active for a long time, you need to start small - you can’t take it and run for several hours in a row. Also, before any workout, it is necessary to properly warm up the body and stretch.

Before training, it is necessary to do a warm-up - including so that the head does not hurt

Also, when playing sports, it is necessary to observewater balance so that the vessels can function properly. And finally, you must not forget about regular rest and do not bother yourself in too hot weather. If it is hot outside, it is better to exercise early in the morning or in the evening.

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Exercise must be done wisely and notload your body. My colleague Andrey Zhukov spoke about the dangers of long physical activity relatively recently in the article “Why you shouldn’t go in for sports for a long time.”