VeryWellMind: How Exercise Helps Your Migraines

“Exercise contributes to your overall health and well-being. It also is a proven way to reduce the number of headaches you get per month and also the intensity of these migraines. This is welcome news for many migraine sufferers.

Those who suffer from migraines don’t merely have a slight headache. Instead, migraine is a disabling condition that impacts more than 39 million men, women, and children in the United States. Migraines can be exacerbated by bright lights, sleep deprivation, hormones, stress, loud sounds or specific smells, and certain foods. It can last for hours or even days.

Choosing to work out benefits you in various ways. First of all, you are giving your whole body a workout and addressing your physical health. When you exercise, you also release endorphins. Endorphins act as natural painkillers and create a sense of well-being. Having a sense of well-being is especially important for people living with migraines. That’s because scientists say those with migraines are unfortunately at an increased risk for depression and anxiety.

If you exercise regularly, you can also reduce the frequency of your migraines. Recently, scientists published a study in The Journal of Headache and Pain after reviewing 44 articles, primarily literature on the PubMed website, about the link between exercise and migraines. These articles showed associations between physical exercise and migraines from epidemiological, therapeutic, and pathophysiological perspectives. Results were clear: “regular exercise may have prophylactic effects on migraine frequency.”

Not only will you get healthier and more energized by following an exercise regimen, but they are non-pharmacological options. They are also free and accessible ways to add to your migraine treatment. Here are good activities that can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines:

• Moderate-intensity aerobic activities. Walking, running, and cycling, are beneficial. They can help in your battle against migraines. According to a meta-analysis of studies on exercise and migraine published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, the evidence showed that these kinds of aerobic exercises decreased the number of migraine days.
• Yoga is another great option. According to a recent scientific study, people with migraines who practiced yoga regularly had reduced frequency and migraine intensity.“

💬 Do you experience migraines? What helps you to alleviate the pain?

Read the complete article here.

#PhysicalHealth #Exercise #Well-being