Exercise Headaches – Symptoms and Causes
Understanding Exercise Headaches
Exercise headaches happen during or after hard physical activity. These pain episodes can occur while running, swimming, playing tennis, rowing, or lifting weights. Health experts group these headaches into two main types.
Primary headaches usually don’t indicate a health concern, while secondary headaches might need urgent attention. If you experience headaches during exercise, it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare provider to determine the type and appropriate treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
Physical Activity Headaches
These headaches typically:
- Feel like throbbing pain
- Start during or after hard physical activity
- Usually affect both sides of the head
Serious Exercise-Related Headaches
These headaches may include:
- All the symptoms of physical activity headaches
- Feeling sick and throwing up
- Passing out
- Seeing double
- Stiff neck
- Pain that comes on suddenly and severely (sometimes called a “thunderclap headache”)
Physical activity headaches usually last from 5 minutes to 2 days. Serious exercise-related headaches tend to last at least 24 hours and sometimes continue for several days or longer.
When to See a Doctor
If you get a headache while exercising or after you finish, talk to your healthcare provider. Contact your doctor right away if:
- Your headache starts suddenly
- This is the first time you’ve had this kind of headache
Don’t wait to seek medical attention if your symptoms seem unusual or severe.
Causes
The exact reason for primary exercise headaches remains unknown. Scientists think these headaches might occur when hard physical activity causes blood vessels in the skull to widen. This can lead to pain during or after exercise.
Primary exercise headaches are generally harmless and not linked to any serious health issues.
In contrast, secondary exercise headaches result from underlying problems. Some causes include:
- Bleeding between the brain and its protective coverings
- Problems with blood vessels in or leading to the brain
- Brain tumors (both cancerous and non-cancerous)
- Blockage in the flow of spinal fluid
- Infections in the sinuses
- Structural problems in the head, neck, or spine
These underlying conditions require medical attention to treat both the headache and the root cause.
Risk Factors
Some people face higher chances of getting exercise headaches. Those who work out in hot weather or at high elevations may experience these headaches more often.
Additionally, if you or your family members have a history of migraines, you might be more likely to develop exercise-related head pain.
Prevention
People who get headaches during exercise should be careful when working out in hot or humid weather, or at high altitudes.
If you notice you get headaches only during certain activities, avoiding those specific exercises may help.
For example, if running triggers headaches but swimming doesn’t, you might consider changing your routine.
Taking time to warm up properly before intense exercise can also reduce your chances of getting an exercise headache. This gives your body time to adjust to increased activity levels.
