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 a climber who’s trying to perform and train regularly, 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
