Active Community: Message List - Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:50:54 GMT

I think you might be right on the electrolytes. It's so important to keep a healthy balance of electrolyte and water intake. There was an earlier post about water intoxication that you might want to check out. The other thing is that I think you may need to have a little more food in your system before a run. I know I do much better on my run and recovery wise when I eat something before a run. I hope you figure it out, but definitely look into the electrolytes!

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:37:04 GMT

Yeah, it's an electrolyte deficiency. I learned this not running, but sightseeing in Bangkok Thailand a couple of years ago. I was outdoors walking around and I kept drinking water and water and water. I later went to the hospital when I showed the definite signs of heat stroke. (as a side note, walking into the ER at a super nice hospital and five hours in a room was about $285. I did have travel insurance which reimbursed me).

Had I drank some gatorade (which I don't remember if it's marketed there or not) or even some OJ, I probably would have been fine. Then again, I always use my hospital story in Bangkok as an interesting conversation starter.

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:28:53 GMT

I know...it's odd...and perplexing. If I get it figured out I will be sure to post an update.

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Mon, 30 May 2011 01:29:15 GMT

I hope you get it worked out. I sometimes get headaches, but we're talking 20-milers in 80 degree heat. Never on a 6-mile run, and never as bad as yours. I'll be interested to hear what you find out.

Len

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sun, 29 May 2011 22:15:12 GMT

Let me add that I can run INDOORS at the gym and still get the headache. I am familiar with tension headaches (I've had whiplash and will get headaches if I am under stress, I can feel it coming on) and this is DEFINITELY different. I do not usually eat much before my run so I have wondered about blood sugar levels and such. You're right, I'm eating all day, drinking all day and then run, sometimes as late as 9pm. Morning I might have a piece of bread with peanut butter but I'm not terribly hungry early. I will drink between half and a full liter of water before I run (maybe 45 mins prior). I do NOT take meds for anything at all...but a dr has suggested that the headaches might be allergy related...but I'd prefer to rule out everything else I can first because I am not a fan of meds.

I think I'm going to try the electrolyte tabs and see if that makes a difference.

PS Yesterday when I mentioned urgent care I was having the throbbing headache, it was hard to focus, light headed, extreme fatigue. This is why I'm thinking maybe it is an electrolyte thing, esp since I drank MORE water than usual.

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sun, 29 May 2011 02:32:38 GMT

Yeah, you want to avoid weighing all the moisture in those clothes. Which is why they say to weigh yourself naked. Hydration really shouldn't be that big an issue on a 6-miler even in hot weather. But you don't get headaches after your evening runs. So what is different between morning and evening? I would think temperature and humidity would be similar, though humidity might be a little higher in the morning. Humidity usually starts high, drops as the air heats, then rises again as the air cools in the evening. Also pollen is usually a little worse in the morning because the air is still. Do you eat before your morning runs? How close to your morning runs do you hydrate, and how much? (Maybe too much, as you suggested.) Compare that to your late day runs, when you have probably been eating and drinking throughout the day. Do you run immediately after you get up in the morning, or do you have time to move around and get your muscles loose? Do you take any medication? For instance, I have mild hay fever/allergies. I take a 24-hour antihistamine right before bed at night, and I use flonase in the morning when I get up. I know that the flonase sometimes gives me a mild headache, usually if I take it before bed. What other differences are there? With 3 kids, maybe you feel more pressure to get done in the morning. Pressure and muscle tension cannot be discounted.

Hopefully comparing morning and evening can help you figure out what is going on.

Len

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sat, 28 May 2011 22:42:57 GMT

Thanks Len, I realize I didn't give a whole lot of starting info. Here we go:

I am a very heavy sweater but have NOT weighed myself - don't have a scale but at the gym which means I'd be weighing with clothes on which is not very accurate from what I read. Worth checking anyways? I'm pretty drenched after a run so all the water lost will likely be in my clothes. I'd probably weigh MORE after! LOL
My runs are normally between 3-6 miles long at an average pace.
I NEVER get the headaches at night but will always get them in the morning unless it's cold out (I live in the south, that's rare). It doesn't matter if it's cloudy or full sun though I def FEEL way worse during a run in the full sun and avoid it as much as possible. We have high humidity here so I'm sure this plays a factor as well.
This morning's run was preceded by a liter and followed by two liters of water, a tall glass of apple juice, some potatoes and eggs and after a while since I was feeling so crappy - a homemade rehydration drink (a liter of water with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 3 tsp of sugar, with juice of one lime). (I'll add that all week long I've been drinking 3 liters of water DAILY).
My blood pressure always runs normal if not on the lower side in the morning (120/60 is normal for me) but I have NOT checked it AFTER a run which might be interesting to compare.
I know I'm not dehydrated bc yes my urine is pale to almost clear both before AND after my run.
I do not use anything else to replenish after a run but have tried sports drinks in the past to no avail. However, I will try again. I'd also like to try the edurolyte tabs.

I got so bad today I considered a trip to urgent care wondering if I'd just keep worsening and if I was in a true depleted state I thought iv fluids would help. With 3 kids this was not practical so I sucked it up and feel a bit better though still not great now. But this is VERY frustrating. When I do morning runs (not often because of this) the rest of my day is shot. We have a lot of summer races coming up I'd really like to participate in....but not sure if I want to at this cost. Please help!

Re: Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sat, 28 May 2011 21:39:14 GMT

Are these short runs (~5 miles) or long? If short, hydration shouldn't be much of an issue anyway. Do you perspire lightly, moderately, heavily? Have you had your blood pressure checked? High blood pressure could contribute and may make you perspire less as well. (My wife had this problem, though not a runner.) How relaxed are you when you run? Clearly muscle tension can contribute and it may take the hotter weather to bring it out. Do you wear a hat or bandana? Hot sun directly on your head could also contribute. You could try pouring water over your head every couple miles to see if that helps.

For longer runs, what do you take besides water - gels, blocks, salt tablets, etc? Have you done before and after weighing to see how much you're losing through perspiration? Weigh yourself naked before and immediately after your run, Take the difference, then add in the weight of any fluid you drank - one ounce of fluid is one ounce of weight. This gives you a good idea of your perspiration rate and fluid replacement needs. It is very difficult during your run to replace all fluids lost, unless you perspire lightly.

You say you're not dehydrated. How are you judging that? Urine color usually works best (pale yellow/straw colored). I've gone out on a long run well-hydrated (almost clear) and come back not so well hydated (dark yellow) in spite of drinking along the way.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas, things to consider.

Len

Horrible headaches after hot morning runs...HELP!

guest — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:22:20 GMT

I'm definitely NOT dehydrated...I have trialed and errrored with water intake and it has made no difference. In fact today I feel a bit worse than usual and I presume it's the fact that I overloaded on water and perhaps got myself into a major electroylte imbalance. I am reading up all over and it all just seems so confusing!! Anyone out there that really understands these issues and can help me think through them - please note - I am not looking for what worked for certain individuals. I have tried everything over the years and still deal with this - I need someone that understands the mechanisms that can help me find a tailored solution. Thanks!