TBP 310: What to Do about Migraines as an Athlete with Dr. Danielle Wilhour
Migraines are one of those things that can completely derail your life—and if you’re an athlete or climber, they can be especially frustrating.
I’ve dealt with migraines for years, and I still feel like I’m trying to understand what’s actually happening in my body. So I brought on Dr. Danielle Wilhour, a neurologist and headache specialist at the University of Colorado, to help us break it all down.
We talk about what migraines actually are (it’s way more than just a headache), the different phases of a migraine, and why things like exercise, hormones, and even talking for long periods of time (??) can be triggers.
We also get into:
- Whether it’s safe to exercise during a migraine (and when it’s not)
- Why some medications can affect athletic performance
- The difference between rescue vs. preventive treatments
- My own hesitation around taking medication—and what the actual risks are
- Hormones, birth control, and why migraines are more common in women
- Nutrient deficiencies and supplements like magnesium and CoQ10
- What to do if exercise itself triggers headaches
One thing I appreciated about this conversation is that it’s not just “take this pill and you’re good.” Dr. Wilhour takes a holistic approach and looks at sleep, hydration, stress, nutrition, and overall lifestyle in addition to medication.
If you’ve ever wondered:
- “Should I be pushing through this?”
- “Am I making this worse by not treating it?”
- “Why does this keep happening to me?”
…this episode will give you a much clearer picture of what’s going on.
Resources & Links
- Dr. Danielle Wilhour — University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
