Okay, so I'm trying some new things to attempt slaying what may be CH morphing to chronic (may not, let's hope). One of those things is that I've started slowly incorporating running as exercise. I live in the muggy, humid, always stormy Richmond, VA however, and my big triggers are heat, humidity, and especially pressure changes.

Are there any other CHers in a similar predicament? How do you manage running or similar exercise without triggering your HAs? I came really close today. I was thinking if I had some kind of cooling cap or could rig one up, might have helped. I don't want to give up the exercise because I think in the long run (ha!) it might help. I can't afford a gym at the moment, and I work two jobs so accessing even a free place could be out of bounds.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Lancet. 1999 Sep 18;354(9183):1001-2.
Comment in:
Lancet. 2000 Jan 8;355(9198):147.

A new cluster headache precipitant: increased body heat.

Blau JN, Engel HO.

Exercise, a hot bath, or elevated environmental temperature provoked cluster headaches, within 1 h, in 75 out of 200 patients. This new observation accords with recognised precipitants--alcohol, histamine, and gyceryl trinitrate--perhaps via generalised vasodilatation or hypothalamic activation.

Publication Types:
Letter

PMID: 10501368 [PubMed]
=====================

Some of us have been able to block an attack by using one, 2mgSL, ergotamine, about 1-hr prior to exercise.

Problem is: I don' know whether it's available: ask your druggist.

AussieBrian, that would be my second-floor apartment bedroom, and my downstairs neighbors would kill me! I wouldn't have very far to run, either. LOL

Do what I do when I want to avoid CH while running.

Avoid running.

AppleNutClusters wrote on Aug 10^th, 2012 at 12:11pm:

I was afraid you'd say that.

Swim

I'm currently training for a 10k so I'm running every other day outside in TX heat!  My neuro suggested I take one indomethacin (50mg) prior.

I can't wait to hear other suggestions!  Not running isn't an option for me. It's my time away from my 3 kids

I think this is going to vary from individual to individual. I have had some situations where I was working out pretty hard when the cluster came and I managed to work through it. It would peak at about a K5 or so, then die back down. I had to be working at near max level for that to happen though.

I've also had success with sit-ups and abdominal workouts, for some strange reason. They are good at clearing shadows out of my head.

Keep running.  It can't hurt you.  If you're going to have attacks anyway, at least you'll look good in the process.  I'm in RVA, as well so I sympathize with the heat and humidity.  You could always run down on Belle's Isle or Brown's Island and just jump in the river when you get too hot .  It may help you in the long run.  I've run pretty much every other other day for the last two years and believe more each day it's what is keeping the beast at bay for me.  The last 2 years have been a cakewalk compared to the 11 before that.

Another update, for the runners. I think my CH while running is mostly triggered by overheating or dehydration. For the last week or so, we've had cooler temps in VA. And I've also been hydrating like crazy before a run. So with the cooler weather and water drinking, I've been able to avoid a running-induced CH the last three times I tried! Bottom line for me, at least, is: run during cooler weather and HYDRATE! And don't push too hard, which leads to overheating, which leads to an attack. (Have 02, Imitrex, and a COLD shower at the ready after every run, too.)

For me, this works. Hope it helps someone else.

May be uncomfortable while running, but ice pack around the neck cools you down quick (some big arteries running through there).

ttnolan wrote on Aug 27^th, 2012 at 4:00pm:


I did try an icepack (small kid-size gel pack) under a baseball cap once. Seemed like it might have been effective, only it was too small to stay cold long enough. There are also these things: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or I used one in New Mexico once. It might be too humid here to work as well, and it's not so much icy as just cool.

Ice helmet?