Why Do We Get Headaches From Exercise?
Headaches happen for a variety of reasons : dehydration, eye strain, drinking the night before, and exercise. Yes, exercise is, too, and it’s just as annoying as any other headache. Here’s the difference between exercise headaches and regular headaches, and how best to treat or avoid them.
Exercise headaches are actually quite common and they are especially unpleasant as you don’t even have to do anything particularly rude to get rid of them. In fact, there are enough of them to be included as a headache trigger in the International Headache Society (IHS)classification of headachedisorders . They used to be called exercise headaches , a wide and varied category of headaches that were also associated with coughing, sneezing, and intercourse.
Exercise headaches are classified by the IHS as headaches that occur during or after any form of intense exercise. They usually last anywhere from five minutes to 48 hours and can be quite severe. You will often experience throbbing pain that can feel like a migraine if you are sensitive to a migraine.
However, not everyone gets exercise headaches, and some people get them more often than others. We still don’t understand why they happen, mainly because headaches in general are very complex and can be caused by any number of factors. Some researchers speculate that exercise headaches may be due to the way heavy exercise affects blood flow to the brain and dilates the blood vessels there. We know they are more likely if you are exercising in high temperatures or at high altitudes, or even when you are wearing special equipment, such as swimming goggles, in an overly cramped environment.
A two-part study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine explained that there is no difference in the prevalence of exercise headaches between men and women, it just seems to be more sport specific. Exercise headaches are more commonly associated with running, cycling, weightlifting (also known as “weightlifting headaches”), swimming, rowing, tennis, and many contact sports.
Make sure it’s not something more serious.
Here’s the tricky part of determining if your headache while exercising indicates something alarming. The IHS groups these and other exercise-related headaches into categories of primary and secondary headaches. Typically, primary headaches occur with no obvious medical cause and are mostly benign. They are most likely the result of your environment, genetics, and a combination of other complex variables.
For example, exercise headaches can be caused by a combination of dehydration, bright lights, strong odors, wet weather, sports, and simply being more prone to headaches in general.
On the other hand, a secondary headache can be associated with other latent, more serious diseases and conditions , and the headache is only a symptom. They are less common than primary headaches, but are still possible. There are no specific tests to say that your headache is “just a headache,” only tests to rule out other more disturbing causes.
However, there are certain warning signs of secondary headaches : sudden onset of a new and unusual (severe) headache , worsening headache that lasts several days, vomiting, confusion, and drowsiness may indicate a serious condition such as a concussion . If you are experiencing an exercise headache for the first time and playing sports involving a minor head injury (such as constantly banging your head against a soccer ball), take it easy and see a doctor, preferably a neurologist who specializes in sports-related injuries.
Because headache triggers are often mysterious and things can be unintentionally overlooked, you can help yourself and your doctor narrow down the causes by keeping a headache diary , in which you constantly note when and why you think headaches occur.
Tips for not bothering you with exercise-related headaches
The good news is that exercise headaches stop … as soon as you stop exercising that hard. But for some of us athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and everyone on the road to better health, it’s like telling us to stop breathing.
So, if you don’t want to give up exercise altogether, you can decrease the intensity of your exercise program and reduce the load (fewer jumping and explosive exercises) to see if the headaches are still bad. In very severe cases, it might be helpful to work with a certified trainer to figure out the types of exercises and positions that trigger or aggravate your headache and create a workaround program that still gives you exercise.
In addition, theresults of this study in Current Sports Medicine Reports suggest the right warm-up and make sure you have other important stones in your overall health, such as diet, recovery time, and overall stress. levels can help. After all, chronic sleep deprivation, poor diet, or even previously undiagnosed food allergies can all play a role in unpleasant migraines and headaches .
Assuming your headaches are not more serious in nature, here are some other ways to deal with them:
- Medications: While the evidence they use is anecdotal, IHS suggests trying NSAIDs prescribed by your doctor, such as indomethacin and ergotamine tartrate, and taking them before exercise. Ibuprofen may work, but it is not recommended to use it on a regular basis. Check with your doctor to see if it is safe for you to take them as a preventive measure.
- Breathe More: In some cases, your headache can be caused by an increase in blood pressure during weightlifting and usually holding your breath longer than you could, on purpose or not. Avoid doing Valsalva full breathing techniques and try not to forget to exhale vigorously during exercise.
- Pre-workout food and drink: For some people, headaches can be the result of inadequate hydration and / or not eating enough pre-workout food. Be sure to drink enough water throughout the day , especially before and during your workout if you intend to exercise for longer periods of time.
Most active people have experienced some form of exercise headaches. For many, these headaches tend to recur over weeks or months and eventually go away, but in more rare cases, these headaches may never go away, noted the authors of the Sports Medicine article .
Primary exercise headaches are not in themselves dangerous, but it is important that your doctor diagnoses the headache correctly. You can then work with your doctor to develop a clearer headache action plan, if needed.