13 replies to this topic

[slowmo]

Over the last few weeks I've been getting a headache after most medium to long runs (1-2 hours for me). It's not a dehydration problem although the headache feels similar to that. I also notice that my eyes feel sore after running as well and I wondered if both symptoms might have something to do wtih running in cooler conditions (wimpy as that sounds).

Does anyone else experience this ?

cheers
slowmo

[BoneyChic]

Yes, I also experience headaches but mainly after my long runs (3+ hours) or on shorter runs where the intensity/pace is much higher.

I went to my doctor and he said that as my iron levels are very low normally (I am anaemic), after a run they fall even lower. It is worse at that time of the month. With me, there is no correlaton to the weather - they happen whether it's hot or cold.

I usually just ensure that I drink heaps and rest. The rest bit is difficult though if I have to go to work afterwards. I usually find that after a few hours they do tend to go away.

[Fossil]

I had similar problems a few years back and it was a lack of salt - too much water - it got very serious in a few instances before I worked it out - if you get it again get some salt/sports drink into you and see it that helps.

[tank girl]

Cold related would be an interesting idea. I used to get really bad headaches swimming in outdoor heated pools in winter. Every time I breathed, an ear would get exposed to the cold. I took to wearing really thick swimming caps and the problem went away. I'd be suspecting too much plain water as the cause, but if electrolyte drink doesn't fix the problem, it could be the cold. Try wearing a beanie!

[slowmo]

Some good leads there. I also have naturally low iron levels (borderline when I donate blood) but I think in my case it could well be over-hydrating. I don't normally drink sports drinks but I did have a bit during the SMH half and didn't notice a headache afterwards.

Thanks very much folks !

slowmo

[slowmo]

Just a follow-up note on this...

Following Fossil's advice I've tried having some salt before and after runs and I'm very happy to report that I've had no more post-run headaches. I can't tell you how good that is !

Being a cheap-skate I've been having a pinch of Malvern salt (which I use for bread making) rather than buying sports drink etc. just to see if that would work - and so far it seems to.

cheers
slowmo

[run to the hills]

Fossil, on May 25 2008, 08:09 AM, said:

I had similar problems a few years back and it was a lack of salt - too much water - it got very serious in a few instances before I worked it out - if you get it again get some salt/sports drink into you and see it that helps.

I had this problem a few years back and using a sports drink to assist with recovery helped put the salt back in my system.

Initially I used Gatorade but it bloated me and I have now switched to Endura and load up before a run with it to assist with hydration through the day.

Works for me.

[Fossil]

slowmo, on Jun 1 2008, 07:37 PM, said:

Just a follow-up note on this...

Following Fossil's advice I've tried having some salt before and after runs and I'm very happy to report that I've had no more post-run headaches. I can't tell you how good that is !

Being a cheap-skate I've been having a pinch of Malvern salt (which I use for bread making) rather than buying sports drink etc. just to see if that would work - and so far it seems to.

cheers
slowmo

Remember though that you'll normally get ample salt from food (so I believe) and an excess isn't too good

I too have Endura (run_to_the_hills) but it's ultra expensive so I only use it after long/hard exercise sessions,

Edited by Fossil, 01 June 2008 - 09:46 PM.

[Bellthorpe]

The diet of most people has far more salt than recommended. Salt deficiency is exceedingly rare.

[slowmo]

Bellthorpe, on Jun 1 2008, 09:53 PM, said:

The diet of most people has far more salt than recommended. Salt deficiency is exceedingly rare.

That's definitely true as is Fossil's point about high salt intake being a problem.

My household is probably an outlier in eating habits - we buy almost no processed, highly salted foods, eating instead lots of vegies, fruit, pasta, rice etc., even make a lot of our own bread these days (this is driven by taste and food enjoyment as much as health concerns). I'm sure we've got a much lower salt intake that teh average oz family, but still, I would have thought it was easily adequate for good health.

However, I've been doing some more reading since my last post and found that one of the common side-effects of a medication that I'm taking (and am stuck with for a while yet) is 'hyponatremia' - sodium deficiency. So that, in conjuction with my tendency to sweat (ahem) copiously, might explain things.

The pinches of salt pre- and post-running was an off-the-cuff experiment - albeit with no design, no replication, no controls I actually thought it was more likely to be something other than sodium deficiency causing the headaches, ie. some other trace element found in a sports drink, so that table salt wouldn't have any effect. But it does seem to have helped. It could be placebo of course - but if so that's fine with me.

The amount of salt involved in my 'supplements' is very small - much less than you'd find in a packet of chips or a handful of pretzels.

slowmo

Edited by slowmo, 02 June 2008 - 01:45 AM.

[Fossil]

slowmo, on Jun 2 2008, 01:37 AM, said:

That's definitely true as is Fossil's point about high salt intake being a problem.

My household is probably an outlier in eating habits - we buy almost no processed, highly salted foods, eating instead lots of vegies, fruit, pasta, rice etc., even make a lot of our own bread these days (this is driven by taste and food enjoyment as much as health concerns). I'm sure we've got a much lower salt intake that teh average oz family, but still, I would have thought it was easily adequate for good health.

However, I've been doing some more reading since my last post and found that one of the common side-effects of a medication that I'm taking (and am stuck with for a while yet) is 'hyponatremia' - sodium deficiency. So that, in conjuction with my tendency to sweat (ahem) copiously, might explain things.

The pinches of salt pre- and post-running was an off-the-cuff experiment - albeit with no design, no replication, no controls I actually thought it was more likely to be something other than sodium deficiency causing the headaches, ie. some other trace element found in a sports drink, so that table salt wouldn't have any effect. But it does seem to have helped. It could be placebo of course - but if so that's fine with me.

The amount of salt involved in my 'supplements' is very small - much less than you'd find in a packet of chips or a handful of pretzels.

slowmo

My problems were caused by
1. worrying about too much salt being bad for blood pressure
2. sweating a great deal
3. being worried about dehydration, coming from Scotland to Sydney edit: [drinking too much water]

This resulted in 2 day headaches after marathons, long bush races - only clicked after about 18months and near-collapse in 6ft track that it was lack of salt!

Edited by Fossil, 02 June 2008 - 07:55 AM.

[Jaxta]

slowmo, on Jun 1 2008, 07:37 PM, said:

Just a follow-up note on this...

Following Fossil's advice I've tried having some salt before and after runs and I'm very happy to report that I've had no more post-run headaches. I can't tell you how good that is !

Being a cheap-skate I've been having a pinch of Malvern salt (which I use for bread making) rather than buying sports drink etc. just to see if that would work - and so far it seems to.

cheers
slowmo

I also suffer from low sodium levels and am a heavy sweater. Salt tablets are $14 from the chemist, I have a couple a day and only use Endura on long runs. If you're drinking it each day I imagine it would get horrendously expensive!

[slowmo]

Fossil, on Jun 2 2008, 07:37 AM, said:

My problems were caused by
1. worrying about too much salt being bad for blood pressure
2. sweating a great deal
3. being worried about dehydration, coming from Scotland to Sydney edit: [drinking too much water]

This resulted in 2 day headaches after marathons, long bush races - only clicked after about 18months and near-collapse in 6ft track that it was lack of salt!

Yep - from what I've seen documented on the web it's become quite a common problem for endurance events and the results can be nasty in extreme cases.

slowmo

[run to the hills]

Fossil, on Jun 1 2008, 09:43 PM, said:

Remember though that you'll normally get ample salt from food (so I believe) and an excess isn't too good

I too have Endura (run_to_the_hills) but it's ultra expensive so I only use it after long/hard exercise sessions,

I have found that I require half the ammount of Endura that I do Gatorade which starts to make it affordable.

I have a physical job and need to guarantee my hydration or I am slugish for the day