How to Avoid Getting a Headache After Running

Headaches during or after running are fairly common, especially when running in hot weather. They could be attributed to one or more of these factors.

Headaches Caused by Dehydration

Headaches can be a symptom of dehydration, so make sure you're drinking enough before, during and after your runs.

If you're running more than 90 minutes, make sure you alternate between water and sports drinks, so you're replacing electrolytes that you're losing through sweat. Don't forget to rehydrate after you've finished running. Do a urine check—if your urine is dark yellow, drink more water until it's a light lemonade color.

Headaches From Sunlight

Bright sunlight can be a headache trigger for some people. To help prevent headaches (and protect your skin and eyes at the same time), wear a hat with a brim and running sunglasses when running during the day. Try to run in the shade whenever possible.

Exercise Headaches

One of the most common explanations post-run headaches, especially in the hot weather, is that these are exercise headaches. Do you get throbbing headaches on both sides of your head during or after your runs?

They may be exercise headaches. Exercise headaches occur more frequently when running in hot weather or at high altitudes, and are more common among runners with a personal or family history of migraines.

So what's causing these exercise headaches? When you're running or doing another form of exercise, the muscles in your head and neck need more blood to circulate. As a result, the blood vessels in those areas swell, which could lead to an exercise headache.

Exercise headaches are usually harmless and can be treated with over-the-counter pain-relief medication. You may be able to prevent them if you avoid running during the hottest part of the day (which is a good idea to prevent heat-related illnesses, too) and make sure you're properly hydrating, including replacing electrolytes lost through sweat.

Some runners find relief by doing post-run stretching of their arms, shoulders and especially their neck. Make sure you do some post-run stretches, in air-conditioning if possible or in the shade, at the very least.

While most exercise headaches are benign, rarely exercise headaches may be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem.

If you start getting exercise headaches along with any of the following symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about it: Headache lasting longer than a day, loss of consciousness, rigid neck, double vision, vomiting, headache on only one side of the head, or the first episode of exertional headache occurring after age 40.