If you are finding that you develop consistent headaches or migraines, the answer may be in your workout, or more importantly, how you are working out. It is actually quite common to get a headache a few hours after exercising. This is due to the fact that sudden stress on your body, in the form of a too-extensive workout, releases nitric acid into your blood stream.

This causes your blood vessels to dilate and can lead to a very painful migraine, or at the very least, a bad headache that will hang around for a few hours. The good news is, there are many ways that you can ensure that you remain headache free after your workout.

The key is avoiding sudden, heavy exercise. This is the main culprit when it comes to post workout headaches, but it isn’t the only one. Whether you are first starting out on a workout plan or you are already exercising, it can be very tempting to overdo. Always remember the 10% rule when it comes to exercising. Never add more than 10% of your usual reps or activity.

You need to work into a new routine slowly, giving your body time to adjust. Even if you are already used to a heavy workout, you can’t go from stop to full out quickly, without experiencing some problems along the way. In addition to dealing with headaches, this is also very bad for your joints and muscles and can lead to injury.

In addition to pacing your workouts, you can also break up your routines if you find that you are still getting headaches afterwards. For example, if you are planning on exercising for thirty minutes in one day, you can change that to three sessions, each lasting ten minutes. Studies have shown that breaking up your workouts doesn’t render them less effective. In fact, you’ll be getting pretty much the same benefit that you would from doing all of your exercises at once.

Working on cardio exercises can also be beneficial over the long term. You’ll be helping your heart and your blood vessels will be in better shape. If you suffer from chronic headaches that are not workout related, getting into a cardio routine may be just what you need, provided you take it slow.

Proper stretching can also cut down on after workout headaches. Focus on relieving stress and tension in your neck muscles and slowly stretch them after your workout. We recommend working with a personal trainer at least once to learn which neck stretches are right for you.

Last but not least, if you already have a headache, you may want to reschedule your workout. While light exercise may help relieve a slight headache, it will only make a bad headache worse. If you find that you have constant headaches, regardless of your exercise routine, you may want to seek the help of a physician to determine the cause and get treatment.

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Originally posted 2008-09-22 05:51:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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