Headaches , Oxygen and Blood Sugar

[donna]

Cathe, I am currently on a quest to drop 10 pounds with modified diet, 4 cardio, 2 strength work out days a week. I'm on the right track and doing well. However, sometimes after one of your tough cardios, I am left with a dull headache. I feel I am on the right track assuming it may be decreased blood sugar or I'm not opening my mouth and taking in enough oxygen. If you (or anybody) have any ideas on this, I would like to hear your opinion.

Thanks for reading...

Donna

 

[Cyndie]

I just wanted to add that a headache can also be caused by dehydration. Just somehing else to consider. This is why I sometimes get headaches after working out. Hope that helps, Cyndie

 

[Jane P]

You may be experiencing an exercise migraine. Migraines are caused when the blood vessels in the head expand. Exercise causes the blood vessels to expand and can bring on a headache in some people. Usually this is temporary until your body adjusts to the new level of activity.

After you exercise, wrap your head in a cool wet towel. This should help slow down the expansion of the blood vessels. If it doesn't help, then you'll know it's another type of headache.
Drink the water too, it sure won't hurt.

 

[eternalEfit]

Hi Donna!
I am so sorry to hear about your headaches and I'm here to tell ya that I'm right there with ya!!!

When I started teaching group fitness classes again in Jan 2000, I would teach at a high intensity and literally we'd all be crawling out the door! (Sounds a lot like how I feel after doing a Cathe cardio vid) And about 3-4 hours later, I'd have a nasty headache. My headaches were also dull like yours, and left me taking the rest of the day off. I don't know how I survived that year...

February of this year, I took a class on nutrition and weight loss and found it soooo interesting that my instructor (an RD) suggested that my headaches were due to my hypoglycemic condition. I'd always know I was hypoglycemic, except it progressed into something horrible during January - February, I thought I reached Diabetes Type 2 stage. After a Glucose Tolerance Test, I found that my hypoglycemia is now called Reactive Hypoglycemia and that I needed to eat small balanced meals more often (6-7) throughout the day to keep my blood sugar level stable. My meals are based on the American Dietetic Association's Diabetic Exchange Meal Planning.

Finally in April, I was able to find a solution to my post-high-intensity-cardio-headaches...simple carbs and protein ingested almost immediately after activity. After the group fitnes room is cleared, I sit down, gulp a Sunny Delight single serving and have a single serving of string cheese. About 45-60 minutes later, I have a regular mini-meal. This has cured my headaches completely. I find that when at times I forget my Sunny-D and protein snack, and just try to eat when I get home (it takes me about 20 minutes from the time class ends) I get a headache. The key for me is to eat IMMEDIATELY, within 5-10 minutes of the completion of my class to avoid the headaches.

If you haven't ruled out hypoglycemia yet, I would suggest to call your doctor and rule it out. Some people have several symptoms of this condition and just aren't aware of it.

Take care of yourself and I hope you find a cure!
Myra

 

[donna]

Myra.....BINGO! I began studying the glycemic index tables and have discovered since posting my original statement, that I need a food with a low index number about 1/2 hour before my workout. Today, I had a little fat free yogurt and three dried apricots. NO HEADACHE. Here's the sad part Myra. I have known I have hypoglycemia for most of my life and I didn't think about checking out the index's until now.

Thank you for your information. I was very informative to me. I hope this is my longterm answer.

D.

 

[ErinF]

Whoa, Myra! De Ja Vu!

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-24-01 AT 10:59AM (Est)[/font][p]This is very strange, but you just described exactly what I went through recently! I've always known I was hypoglycemic, but it progressed into "something horrible" in January and February. I didn't seek medical help until April. ( The symptoms had worsened so gradually that I didn't realize how bad it was until I started having serious dizziness and mental confusion issues - very scary. ) I have both fasting and reactive hypoglycemia. I've made the dietary changes necessary, including learning about the glycemic index of foods, and am doing lot better. Exercise is a major trigger for my "bad episodes." Usually a cup of milk is what helps me most in both prevention of and responses to these exercise related episodes.

Wow! Talk about strange coincidences, huh? We were both going through the same stuff at the same time. I'm glad to hear that you're doing better as well!!

Take care!
Erin