Question:
Exercise = Red Face = Headache!
Does anyone else have this problem? This has plagued me since I was a (relatively) normal-sized child. Whenever I exert myself (heart-rate over 125), my face gets red (sometimes BEET-RED or SCARLET, which alarms people), and even long after I've cooled down and my face has gone back to normal, I have a long-lasting headache. It can also happen when the weather is extremely warm (>90 degrees). Before the surgery, no problem - take 3 Motrin and it was gone within an hour. NOW...i try to ignore it and hope it goes away, but when you have a headache 10 hours AFTER your sweat-session that won't go away, it's difficult to ignore!<br> <br> It's embarrasing, but mostly worrisome to me, because it seems the only thing to take away the pain is ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory medication). I'm wondering if my head is getting so heated that it's affecting my brain tissues. The fact that I can still have this headache so many hours after working out would point to that. <br> <br> Does anyone else have this problem? Have you found a solution? How did you work around it? I don't want this to eventually stop me from working out; I'm really enjoying my workouts at the gym, except for this. — sweetmana (posted on October 2, 2003)
October 2, 2003
I'm not sure the headache is a direct connection to the red face, but the
redness in the face sounds like rosacea. Excercise can be one of the
triggers. Try doing a search on google for more info.
— Martha K.
October 2, 2003
I had the same exact thing. I've had instructors walk away from the front
of the class to come make sure I was okay. I believe it is a matter of
working out too hard. This would happen when I was at an aerobics class,
but when I workout at home to a video, I feel less pressure to keep up with
the class and look like I know what I'm doing - I work at a more-reasonable
pace - and I don't get the red face and headache. I still sweat, I'm still
getting a good workout, I'm just working at a better level for me. I would
suggest you tone down your work out quite a bit - work at a moderate level
instead of full-bore, and see if that makes a difference. Something that
helps me a lot is to take a cool shower when I have a headache. A hot
shower isn't the same. I don't think your brain is suffering from this,
but I think you are probably overdoing it.
— bethybb
October 2, 2003
Have you had your blood pressure checked? I had the same thing happening to
me pre surgery turned out to be high blood pressure was the cause. Headache
could also be that you need to hydrate yourself more during periods of
excersise
— Tammy N.
October 2, 2003
I, too, suspect you're overdoing it. You should not get scarlet red from
the exertion of a work out. Try slowing down the pace a bit and see if
that helps. It certainly could be raising your blood pressure, and playing
with your blood flow. That likely is causing the headaches (too much
pressure in the blood vessels). The headache is NOT from brain tissue
damage. Your brain itself does not have nerve endings that can generate
pain. If this continues after you slow down the workout, see a doctor.
— Vespa R.
October 2, 2003
OMG! For years I thought I was the only one! I have the exact same
problem-exercise induced migraine. I used to tell ppl that I was allergic
to exercise LOL My BP was the high end of average. The way I cope with
this is--I take 3 x-strength Tylenol at the first sign of the headache or
before any exertion. Take your headache medicine(not ibruprofen-not good
for RNY) about 1 hour BEFORE you go to the gym. I can't do anything in the
heat. Preop I was 302 lbs and the red face and headache would happen if I
just walked easy to the corner store. Now that I'm postop and down 45 lbs,
I can walk alot farther without the red face or a headache. It is still
possible for me to get a headache if I'm in a place that the temp is over
75 degrees or strong sunlight with heat but it doesn't happen nearly as
often as it used to. I have not started a formal exercise program and I
won't bother until I have dropped another 25 lbs and have worked my way up
to a fast paced walk of at least a kilometer without getting a headache.
When I get to this point, it will be time to spend some money on equipment
or a gym membership.
— mary ann T.
October 2, 2003
Do you have night sweats? when my son had a very red face when exercising
his thyroid was not funtioning.
— acluff
October 2, 2003
ORIGINAL POSTER here. Thanks for all the responses. No, I'm not overdoing
it, that's just the thing. I've had this problem since i was a child (and
was pretty fit and active at that point), and it also happens when I'm in
hot weather - not EXERCISING - just EXISTING (walking around or even
sitting) in hot weather. I don't have high blood pressure, and during
exercise, i keep a close eye on my pressure (using the heart rate monitor)
and don't let it go over 135. I'm no stranger to exercise, and was in both
volleyball and soccer throughout junior high and high school. I am not
gasping for air during exercise, and have a good handle on my level of
exertion. <br>
<br>
However, I <b>do</b> have a thyroid problem (hypo). I have to
admit, I have been off the synthroid since the surgery, and need to get in
to see my primary. I didn't realize thyroid could play a part in this, and
will check this out further. Thanks again!
— sweetmana
October 2, 2003
There is such a thing as ETM's. Exercise Triggered Migraines. That'd be
me. I do gentle work outs only. If I have to get a headache & nausea,
not going to do it. I can work the muscles, get the wt bearing for bones
and not be miserable this way. It's hard on the cardio, but doing that is
better than NO exercise. I know me, and am NOT going to induce ETM/nausea
on purpose.
— vitalady
October 8, 2003
I'm the SAME way as you. Heat, exercise, I turn beet red. I get the
headaches, too....but I'm prone to migraines anyway. I also have rosacea
which doesn't help. I think the other posters are right--overexertion,
dehydration. Perhaps you should talk to your PCP about this. Hey, asking
never hurt anybody, right?
— Katherine H.
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