Does Exercise Help With Migraines?
Do you suffer frequent headache attacks?
Like, more than one headache or migraine a week?
You’re not alone then!
According to the World Health Organization, headache disorders affect more than 1.7 to 4 percent of the world’s adult population, which amounts to a shitload of people.
That being the case that you’re among the many who experience frequent headache bouts, guess what might help?
Yup, the answer that you guessed so accurately is exercise!
*fist bump*Good job!!!*fist bump*
The support for mild to moderate exercise in the management of migraines comes from several studies.
One study in favor of exercise followed 46,648 people for 11 years. What was found by the researchers was an association between physical exercise and migraine, with migraines and nonmigraine headaches being more likely to be suffered by those who engaged in little exercise compared to those who were regularly active. Another study, this one a randomized control trial, found that exercise was better at preventing migraines than relaxation via listening to a recorded program. The efficacy of exercise was also found to be on par with medication, making it a viable option for those who don’t benefit from or don’t want to take drugs to treat their headaches.1 Yeah, I know, who the fuck DOESN’T want to take drugs?!?! Lastly, a meta-analysis of several studies found that exercise reduced the number of migraine episodes per month, as well as lessened the duration and intensity of them in some, but not all, of the subjects.
So does exercise help with migraines?
Based on the research, the answer is a clear yes!
The data shows that exercise is beneficial to the alleviation of headache attacks.
As to why, it’s because running, swimming, biking, lifting, and other forms of intentional exercise stimulate the release of endorphins. And because endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers, the release of this hormone can reduce the intensity of a headache.
Another hormone that gets released via physical activity is enkephalin, a natural anti-depressant that helps reduce stress, which in turn can help individuals sleep. Because stress and inadequate sleep are two of the triggers for headache attacks, the stimulation of enkephalin can reduce the frequency of headaches.
So yeah, get to exercising, you!!!2It’s strongly advised to warm up thoroughly and choose aerobic exercises like walking and swimming over shit like weightlifting because inadequate warming up and high-intensity exercise can trigger migraines. If suffering from tension headaches that occur on both sides of the head as opposed to migraines that only happen on one side, strength training may be considered, though. Per a study conducted by Danish researchers, people who experience a high number of tension headaches generally have neck and shoulder muscles that are up to 26 percent weaker than those of nonsufferers. It’s not yet known if this muscle weakness is a cause or effect of tension headaches but performing weightlifting exercises that build up the neck and shoulder muscles should offer relief by correcting the muscle imbalance that’s associated with this type of headache.
Just don’t overdo it, though!
While exercise can have a positive non-pharmacological effect on headaches and migraines, it can actually trigger them too, especially when performed on an empty stomach, without proper hydration, in a hot climate, at too high an altitude, and/or at too high an intensity.
Glossary: exercise, hormones, intensity, muscle
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