Road Cycling - Headaches after rides

Occasionally when I'm out on a good climbing ride or high-energy ride at lunchtime, when I get back I get a dull headache.. eyes hurt a bit (i gotta stare at a comptuer @ work for the rest of the day) and dull from the back..
It kinda feels a bit like a hangover headache, but I drink a lot when I ride and when I get back so I don't suspect its dehydration.. but should I drink more? or drink a ton more beforehand I feel that when I drink a lot before hand it kidna sits like a rock..

thanks -e

that happens to me when i don't have enough sugar intake...
i'm fine during the ride, but once i get home, i end up with a migraine if i don't load up on a granola bar or something right afterwards....might be different for different people?

Food, fluids ... could be any one of a number of things. For me, if I don't drink enough I get a huge headache. The veins on the side of my forehead stand out and dance up and down.

Food, fluids ... could be any one of a number of things. For me, if I don't drink enough I get a huge headache. The veins on the side of my forehead stand out and dance up and down.


Also make sure you are wearing good UV protection for your sunglasses, even if it is cloudy. I get headaches like this when I don't wear my sunglasses.

For me, food before is important, riding on an empty stomach will result in a sure headache. I suggest you make sure you eat before, hydrate during, and eat again after the ride.

Good luck.

Ed

It kinda feels a bit like a hangover headache,

hangovers are a resualt of low oxygen
maybe where your located has a high polituion
or your at a high altude ( also lower oxygen levels )
I have seen some City News reports give an count so people know weather to excerice heavy or not
or even to stay in doors

or look at the route is it heavy traffic area
lots of car exuast

I get headaches if the ride is too strenuous and I'm sweating a lot, especially during hot weather. For me, drinking water is not enough, I have to take electrolyte pills or use a sports drink with lots of salt in it. You would want to make sure you replenish the electrolytes into your body while you're re-hydrating yourself.

-Kevin

I have gotten headaches too, especially in hot weather and the harder the ride. I now premedicate by taking 2 tylenol, and maybe some ibuprofen too, prior to the ride. Then take 2 more tylenol 3-4 hours later. This has worked great for me.

It never seemed to matter how much water or food I ate--I used to always get them. Now, I do much better.

Thaks everyone for the responses! Great tips.

or, maybe, _NOTHING IS WRONG_, and you're just working hard.

sd

I have gotten headaches too, especially in hot weather and the harder the ride. I now premedicate by taking 2 tylenol, and maybe some ibuprofen too, prior to the ride. Then take 2 more tylenol 3-4 hours later. This has worked great for me.

It never seemed to matter how much water or food I ate--I used to always get them. Now, I do much better.

How often are you riding? If you are taking this much tylenol and ibuprofen, I would definitely consult with your Doctor. This is not good for your liver or stomach.

Occasionally when I'm out on a good climbing ride or high-energy ride at lunchtime, when I get back I get a dull headache.. eyes hurt a bit (i gotta stare at a comptuer @ work for the rest of the day) and dull from the back..
It kinda feels a bit like a hangover headache, but I drink a lot when I ride and when I get back so I don't suspect its dehydration.. but should I drink more? or drink a ton more beforehand I feel that when I drink a lot before hand it kidna sits like a rock..

thanks -e

Are we overlooking helmet fit as a possible source? I suspect an improperly adjusted (or perhaps even a properly adjusted) helmet may put pressure on pressure points (?).

How often are you riding? If you are taking this much tylenol and ibuprofen, I would definitely consult with your Doctor. This is not good for your liver or stomach.

Very good point. I only need this during hard 40+ mile rides in the heat of summer (maybe once a week). I seldom take tylenol at any other time. Ericmorin said he occasionally has exertional headaches. I would only do this prior to a ride that he knows usually produces a headache and not take more than 4 grams of tylenol in 24 hours. I end up taking 1-2.5 grams in 24 hours. By adding a NSAID like ibuprofen, I found out I need less tylenol.

hangovers are a resualt of low oxygen
maybe where your located has a high polituion
or your at a high altude ( also lower oxygen levels )
I have seen some City News reports give an count so people know weather to excerice heavy or not
or even to stay in doors

or look at the route is it heavy traffic area
lots of car exuast

Had not heard that alcohol depleted oxygen for blood.

Alcohol de-hydrates you. Drink plenty of water/sports drink. Stay away from Caffine does the same thing. Hangover prevention in colledge was about hydrating before going out to drink and I never got hangovers when hydrated.

Had not heard that alcohol depleted oxygen for blood.

Alcohol de-hydrates you. Drink plenty of water/sports drink. Stay away from Caffine does the same thing. Hangover prevention in colledge was about hydrating before going out to drink and I never got hangovers when hydrated.



I guess you never met Collins' Lemon Gin then.

Had not heard that alcohol depleted oxygen for blood.

Alcohol de-hydrates you. Drink plenty of water/sports drink. Stay away from Caffine does the same thing. Hangover prevention in colledge was about hydrating before going out to drink and I never got hangovers when hydrated.

well I hadnt heard about hydrating before going out
but maybe your just one of the lucky ones like me
never got hangovers unless I mixed Beer, Whiskey, SlowGin and Vodka