Headaches After Exercise

Exercise headaches are a common problem. Usually, they're simple and harmless, other than the aggravation of a few hours of pain. Occasionally, they can be signs of a serious problem like a brain tumor or aneurysm! Learn the signs and symptoms, and also the possible causes, of these headaches, and how to deal with them.

Tension and muscle strain. This headache comes on later in the evening, or the next day. It is usually caused by weight lifting with incorrect posture, or other forms of weight training overexertion, though it can also be caused by awkward posture during aerobic exercise. The muscles in the back and sides of the neck are the most common causes of these headaches.

See my other article for some natural ways to get rid of tension headaches. The brief version: heat, rest, stretches, willow bark and turmeric can all be useful allies in this battle.

Circulation changes and exertion. Migraines are frequently caused by changes in blood circulation to the brain -- changes in pressure, such as a thunderstorm, can cause this problem, and so can exercise, which gets the heart pumping faster.

If you have a history of migraine, you'll probably have an index of your own preferred cures. Eating a salty soup broth, or taking a warm or cold bath, are good starting points for changing your circulation to kick the headache out. So is the common painkiller aspirin, which thins the blood.

Avoiding caffeine may also help, unless you're a regular coffee drinker, in which case, proceed as usual to avoid caffeine withdrawal.

Another suggestion is to warm up and cool down carefully before and after exercise.

The most basic type of exercise headache is simply induced by the exertion, according to the Mayo Clinic¹, though this may be circulation-related as well. It involves throbbing pain on both sides of the head, and may be alleviated by common over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen.

Dehydration. Failing to drink enough water can cause more than one kind of headache, including migraine and tension.

How to prevent dehydration headaches: Carry a water bottle, make many trips to the water fountain -- and if your urine is at all dark, drink even more water. If you have a headache and suspect dehydration, you may want to drink a sports drink like Gatorade or, better yet, drink a couple of large glasses of water, and eat a pinch of salt. Lite salt, which contains potassium as well, can help replenish your system even more.

Serious underlying conditions. This is what you want to know how to identify. If you are experiencing double vision, severe or frequent vomiting, or very sudden pain, or if this is the first time you have gotten an exercise headache, it's wise to seek medical assistance at once. A stiff neck can also indicate brain injury, but then again, if you've overworked your spine while doing pull-ups, it may not. I've linked some signs of a brain aneurysm, for those uncertain.

When in doubt, check it out! It's much better to go to the doctor and feel like a fool than to stay home and feel dead.

The majority of exercise headaches are harmless, but a few may not be. Keep tabs on how your body feels, and you'll become better at knowing what's normal for you.