Aa
Headaches when working out. What could be wrong
Whenever im pushing myself during working out, whether its a set of push ups or lifting weights at the end of the set when im really pushing like when my face will get red, i will get a pretty bad headache pretty much forcing me to discontinue the workout. Just has started happening the last week, but it always seems to happen. Do I have a brain tumor or something, whats wrong? =(
Thanks
Zach
Thanks
Zach
Sounds very much like exertion headaches. See here:
http://www.apexllc.org/articles/exertion-headaches/
http://www.apexllc.org/articles/exertion-headaches/
What ended up happening? I have the same problem
1 Comments
Start drinking Luke warm water after every workout. I am sure this will help as I have tried this and it worked for me.
As a general practitioner for the last 35 years, I have had many patients come in with complaints such as this. Most commonly it is linked to basic problems such as low testosterone, or infertility. This could lead to a reduction in size of the male organ in the late 30's-40's. The best solution would be to take a supplement such as test E or another steroid.
The same is happening to me....
I read over most of the comments and I seem to have a similar issue. My headache is brought on by activity that raises blood pressure. I would describe the pain as throbbing or pulsing. The pain is at the base of the occiput and travels to the front of my skull. Sex, strength training, running all exacerbate the pain. I had this issue a year ago, saw a chiropractor, and it resolved slowly over a period of 2 weeks. The headaches came back a few days ago and the only trauma that may have caused it was a head flexor endurance test I did for a Physical Therapy Exam. I have also reintroduced meat into my diet 6 days ago. Everything else has stayed the same. I saw my Chiropractor today and am experiencing some relief but the hypertensive headache did not completely resolve. I hope this brings some insight to others and helps them find the cause of their headache.
I have been working out regularly for over 25 years. I have also been taking energy supplements for several years. I have never had problems with headaches. 4 days ago after taking a thermogenic on an empty stomach I started working out everything was fine until I did pushups, after about six of them my head felt like it was going to implode; I had to stop. The pain was unreal. I never felt anything like it. It seemed concentrated in the back of my head. I had to take aspirin and lay down. I thought it was a reaction to the thermogenic,but I have not taken an energy pill in three days and this morning just doing tricep dips I felt it coming on again I stopped immediately.Now I'm afraid. I can't stop working out it's my life. What could have caused this?
Problem solved. No more looking up during any exercises and stretching my scalenes. Also not clenching jaw. What a miracle fix. Also took a propanerol (spelling) to completely kick this things ***.
Are you workingout or engaging in sexual activity when it happens? If so it's either from tilting your head back or holding your breath. Follow the link below and stretch your scalenes, I fixed myself in a week or two. This all assumes it not something more serious such as an aneurism which is lower likelihood but always possible
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf3TPLt5mkY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwwCaVNQJ3s&sns=em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SCqFhV2Frk&sns=em
Are you workingout or engaging in sexual activity when it happens? If so it's either from tilting your head back or holding your breath. Follow the link below and stretch your scalenes, I fixed myself in a week or two. This all assumes it not something more serious such as an aneurism which is lower likelihood but always possible
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf3TPLt5mkY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwwCaVNQJ3s&sns=em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SCqFhV2Frk&sns=em
I started crossfit 3 months ago. The exercise program is pretty intense, even considering I've been working out (running, weightlifting, martial arts etc) since age 13 (I'm 30 now). 2 days ago I was doing double unders, which is just jumping rope, but two revolutions of the rope for every jump. Ive been doing these since I started crossfit, and doing regular jump rope (single revolution) for years with no issues. The only difference with double unders I guess is a higher jump to allow for the 2 revolutions, thus causing more impact upon each landing. For those of you unfamiliar with crossfit, it also involves a lot of Olympic lifting, which includes heavy squatting. So to the point, 2 days ago at around rep 100 of double unders throbbing headache in my temples! I crumbled to my knees terrified. The headache subsides slowly but it took a few hours to go away completely. I left the gym and went home scared reading a lot of unhelpful sites that scared the hell out of me. This thread seems to be spot on. I went back today and the warmup was double unders. This time on rep 75 same headache. The splitting headache forced me to stop,jumping rope. This time however I proceeded to do a very intense workout after lasting 45 mins (no heavy weight though it was 45 mins of rowing, push-ups and rope climbs). The rest of my workout was pain free. Later that night the headache came on during sex. Tomorrow I will be doing squats which is the first heavy lift since the headaches came on.
I think backnotsAL comments above is describing exactly what I'm feeling. I know a doctor is a must do just in case of a brain issue but I'm sure that'll be a bunch of negative tests followed by a stop working out message. I will try deep tissue and hopefully have the same luck. Well keep you all posted.
I think backnotsAL comments above is describing exactly what I'm feeling. I know a doctor is a must do just in case of a brain issue but I'm sure that'll be a bunch of negative tests followed by a stop working out message. I will try deep tissue and hopefully have the same luck. Well keep you all posted.
The dehydration would be the first thing to look at. It affects us more as we grow older. You may have been a bit dehydrated when you were younger and didn't have this issue so it appears as though this is a new issue. I am 50 and have had headaches when working out (or working strenuously) since I was in my early twenties. The headaches are severe, to the point where I fell like throwing up, and can can last hours. The only relief has been to put my head back for an hour or two! When I say put my head back, I don't mean lying down. That makes it worse.Picture yourself walking around Times Square admiring the skyscrapers in New York for two hours. If this is the kind of headache you are getting and the latter is your only means of relief, you are dehydrated.
I tried all sorts of things and eventually found something that worked. Before working out, or doing anything else indoors or out that will result in a marked increase in heart rate and sweating, I drink a power drink like Gatorade. This worked much better before Coca Cola bought Gatorade and changed the formula to make it more tasty and offer more flavors, but it still works. I continue to drink it liberally until I'm done with the activity and then immediately switch to water - lots of it - and try to cool down as quickly as possible. I don't mean finding some air conditioning. I mean dousing myself with a hose, taking a shower, jumping in a pool, ....you get the idea. You need to be careful here. Headaches can be an indication of something more serious like heat stress, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. I had heat stroke when I was 29 and nearly died. My doctor believes that may be contributing to the headaches I can have when working out now.
It is simple now. If I follow my routine and don't overdo it, I am fine. If I don't, headache for 2 hours.
I tried all sorts of things and eventually found something that worked. Before working out, or doing anything else indoors or out that will result in a marked increase in heart rate and sweating, I drink a power drink like Gatorade. This worked much better before Coca Cola bought Gatorade and changed the formula to make it more tasty and offer more flavors, but it still works. I continue to drink it liberally until I'm done with the activity and then immediately switch to water - lots of it - and try to cool down as quickly as possible. I don't mean finding some air conditioning. I mean dousing myself with a hose, taking a shower, jumping in a pool, ....you get the idea. You need to be careful here. Headaches can be an indication of something more serious like heat stress, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. I had heat stroke when I was 29 and nearly died. My doctor believes that may be contributing to the headaches I can have when working out now.
It is simple now. If I follow my routine and don't overdo it, I am fine. If I don't, headache for 2 hours.
The dehydration would be the first thing to look at. It affects us more as we grow older. You may have been a bit dehydrated when you were younger and didn't have this issue so it appears as though this is a new issue. I am 50 and have had headaches when working out (or working strenuously) since I was in my early twenties. The headaches are severe, to the point where I fell like throwing up, and can can last hours. The only relief has been to put my head back for an hour or two! When I say put my head back, I don't mean lying down. That makes it worse.Picture yourself walking around Times Square admiring the skyscrapers in New York for two hours. If this is the kind of headache you are getting and the latter is your only means of relief, you are dehydrated.
I tried all sorts of things and eventually found something that worked. Before working out, or doing anything else indoors or out that will result in a marked increase in heart rate and sweating, I drink a power drink like Gatorade. This worked much better before Coca Cola bought Gatorade and changed the formula to make it more tasty and offer more flavors, but it still works. I continue to drink it liberally until I'm done with the activity and then immediately switch to water - lots of it - and try to cool down as quickly as possible. I don't mean finding some air conditioning. I mean dousing myself with a hose, taking a shower, jumping in a pool, ....you get the idea. You need to be careful here. Headaches can be an indication of something more serious like heat stress, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. I had heat stroke when I was 29 and nearly died. My doctor believes that may be contributing to the headaches I can have when working out now.
It is simple now. If I follow my routine and don't overdo it, I am fine. If I don't, headache for 2 hours.
I tried all sorts of things and eventually found something that worked. Before working out, or doing anything else indoors or out that will result in a marked increase in heart rate and sweating, I drink a power drink like Gatorade. This worked much better before Coca Cola bought Gatorade and changed the formula to make it more tasty and offer more flavors, but it still works. I continue to drink it liberally until I'm done with the activity and then immediately switch to water - lots of it - and try to cool down as quickly as possible. I don't mean finding some air conditioning. I mean dousing myself with a hose, taking a shower, jumping in a pool, ....you get the idea. You need to be careful here. Headaches can be an indication of something more serious like heat stress, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. I had heat stroke when I was 29 and nearly died. My doctor believes that may be contributing to the headaches I can have when working out now.
It is simple now. If I follow my routine and don't overdo it, I am fine. If I don't, headache for 2 hours.
You may be dehydrated.
Take in more water before starting work out :)
Take in more water before starting work out :)
Hi all, I believe i know what the problem might be for you all because i certainly know what the problem is for me.
I'm 40 yrs of age and am currently going through another ''exercise/orgasm headache'' period. This has happened to me twice before over the last couple of years.
I believe it comes from deep lying tension or knots in your back.
These tension or muscle knots are so deep you don't even know they are there.
I spent hundreds of dollars on doctors and they couldn't help me. Even when i suspected it might be a strain or a knot in my back causing the pain, 3 massage therapists told me they couldnt feel the knot until, i found a deep tissue massage therapist who listened to me. I showed him where my right trapezius felt tight and he began to massage me whilst i was in his massage chair. Every now and then when he'd press down hard in the right spot using his elbow and i could feel a tickle i'd say yes,yes that's the spot! As he pressed harder i began to feel relief thinking oh wow that feels great, meanwhile, he is standing on the edge of the chair, using his whole body weight(about 75kg) on his elbow into my back and im pushing upwards wanting him to go deeper cause it just felt so good.
After the session i asked him on how to prevent these deep lying knots from returning and he just basically said to do some stretching exercises in my back, neck and shoulders. I did and it went away for about 10 months.
Now recently that my exercise/orgasm headaches have returned because ive been lazy with stretching before workouts etc..I decided to get a mate to stick his elbow in my back whilst having a mild headache and when he hit the spot i felt my headache disappear on contact. I have a massive deep lying knot and tension in my back at the moment that i didnt even know was there. Getting it massaged out tomorrow. Will take a couple of sessions along with stretching exercises but i know my headaches will be gone in a few days.
Best of luck all
I'm 40 yrs of age and am currently going through another ''exercise/orgasm headache'' period. This has happened to me twice before over the last couple of years.
I believe it comes from deep lying tension or knots in your back.
These tension or muscle knots are so deep you don't even know they are there.
I spent hundreds of dollars on doctors and they couldn't help me. Even when i suspected it might be a strain or a knot in my back causing the pain, 3 massage therapists told me they couldnt feel the knot until, i found a deep tissue massage therapist who listened to me. I showed him where my right trapezius felt tight and he began to massage me whilst i was in his massage chair. Every now and then when he'd press down hard in the right spot using his elbow and i could feel a tickle i'd say yes,yes that's the spot! As he pressed harder i began to feel relief thinking oh wow that feels great, meanwhile, he is standing on the edge of the chair, using his whole body weight(about 75kg) on his elbow into my back and im pushing upwards wanting him to go deeper cause it just felt so good.
After the session i asked him on how to prevent these deep lying knots from returning and he just basically said to do some stretching exercises in my back, neck and shoulders. I did and it went away for about 10 months.
Now recently that my exercise/orgasm headaches have returned because ive been lazy with stretching before workouts etc..I decided to get a mate to stick his elbow in my back whilst having a mild headache and when he hit the spot i felt my headache disappear on contact. I have a massive deep lying knot and tension in my back at the moment that i didnt even know was there. Getting it massaged out tomorrow. Will take a couple of sessions along with stretching exercises but i know my headaches will be gone in a few days.
Best of luck all
Hey, I am 44 y.o. I have been exercising (and very often to the limit) all my life. Two days ago I started having the same thing! First time it came when I was making love to me wife. Then it came when I was doing dips on parallel bars to the extent that I had to stop. But the worst thing - it's coming when I masturbate! So if I were religious, I would think that it's a punishment for the sin of masturbation :-)!
Chiropractor couldn't find anything and recommended to go to the doctor. I hate doctors, they have never been of much use to me. At this point I don't know what my further steps are going to be.
Chiropractor couldn't find anything and recommended to go to the doctor. I hate doctors, they have never been of much use to me. At this point I don't know what my further steps are going to be.
I think you need to take it easy for at least two weeks. Then when u re-start wegith training, start with lower weights for couple of weeks more. U injured ur neck...If you dont stop the weight lifting, it will never heal. I was in same situation last year, I went to chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon but only rest helped me.
I just read about your condition with the headaches upon a strenuous workout. I have been lifting for the past year. I'm in pretty good shape, 32 years old, 6 ft tall, at 195 lbs. I'm doing a 3 set, 6 rep program. I was doing abs on a machine (fly nautilus) and I was on my 3rd set of 6 reps on the very last rep. I was trying to complete 180 lbs (a new personal record). I was really trying hard but couldn't get that last rep in. I was definitely giving 110%. I was bearing down, groaning....everything. Suddenly....POP...I felt this weird sensation sort of in the back-left part of my head. It then started throbbing around my head a bit. Pain wasn't too bad. It was the very last rep of my whole workout. The pain wasn't that bad. I joked about it with my wife and buddy who go to the gym with me while we had lunch.
Well that was four days ago (on Monday). Then on Wednesday (2 days later) I did my weight routine again - it was a pull lifting day (Monday I did a "push" day). I began Wed. with a 30 minute warm-up jog - no problems. Then I began my weight routine - 6 exercises each with 3 sets of 6 reps (a strength routine).
I got to the 5th exercise - seated rows. Again I was trying to do a rep that I couldn't do - I think it was 170 lbs. I felt the pain and the waves begin to emanate from the back of my head again. This time it was MORE painful and actually alarmed me. I didn't want to scare my wife or buddy. I did my 6th exercise anyway, just trying to push through it. My buddy said that it's probably a pinched nerve or a ripped muscle since it sort of seems to be around where the base of my skull connects to my head. I have some doubts though based on the symptoms...
So anyway, I do this 6th exercise. It's shoulder shrugs where I just deadlift and shrug 105 kg. No problems here but I'm not doing 115 kg which is the new level I would normally be attempting.
We do our final "bonus" which is decided to be chin-ups. I get to my 4th chin-up....no problems.....but I'm getting a bit tired. I feel the throbbing start again as I start to push the 5th one so I stopped. It hurt pretty bad again for the next 10-15 minutes or so. I've been taking lots of IBproufen ever since.
Later that night I was having sex with my wife and the exertions triggered the same problem as I approached orgasm. I wasn't lifting any weight though......
Then yesterday I'm climbing the stairs at work sort of quickly - I was running a bit late - and by the 4th floor.....again it starts just a bit.
My question for you is, did it ever stop? How did you stop it? How long does it take? I don't want any serious permanent injury. I mean this is my HEAD which is worrisome.
Anybody have any advice? I want to keep exercising - what's the best way to get better and keep burning calories? Have any of you had a serious complication such as stroke or brain bleeding? This whole thing has me a bit freaked out to be honest lol! I mean just go look at WebMD if you want to be worried!
Well that was four days ago (on Monday). Then on Wednesday (2 days later) I did my weight routine again - it was a pull lifting day (Monday I did a "push" day). I began Wed. with a 30 minute warm-up jog - no problems. Then I began my weight routine - 6 exercises each with 3 sets of 6 reps (a strength routine).
I got to the 5th exercise - seated rows. Again I was trying to do a rep that I couldn't do - I think it was 170 lbs. I felt the pain and the waves begin to emanate from the back of my head again. This time it was MORE painful and actually alarmed me. I didn't want to scare my wife or buddy. I did my 6th exercise anyway, just trying to push through it. My buddy said that it's probably a pinched nerve or a ripped muscle since it sort of seems to be around where the base of my skull connects to my head. I have some doubts though based on the symptoms...
So anyway, I do this 6th exercise. It's shoulder shrugs where I just deadlift and shrug 105 kg. No problems here but I'm not doing 115 kg which is the new level I would normally be attempting.
We do our final "bonus" which is decided to be chin-ups. I get to my 4th chin-up....no problems.....but I'm getting a bit tired. I feel the throbbing start again as I start to push the 5th one so I stopped. It hurt pretty bad again for the next 10-15 minutes or so. I've been taking lots of IBproufen ever since.
Later that night I was having sex with my wife and the exertions triggered the same problem as I approached orgasm. I wasn't lifting any weight though......
Then yesterday I'm climbing the stairs at work sort of quickly - I was running a bit late - and by the 4th floor.....again it starts just a bit.
My question for you is, did it ever stop? How did you stop it? How long does it take? I don't want any serious permanent injury. I mean this is my HEAD which is worrisome.
Anybody have any advice? I want to keep exercising - what's the best way to get better and keep burning calories? Have any of you had a serious complication such as stroke or brain bleeding? This whole thing has me a bit freaked out to be honest lol! I mean just go look at WebMD if you want to be worried!
Yes, just started a 1400 calorie diet and work out on the xforce machines, when the trainer push me to hard on my upper body the dizziness starts followed by a severe throbbing headache making my eye tear, having to stop and hold my head for about 3mins and feeling light headed the rest of the day.
norgesic.and physiotherapy.any of these or both got me past it.the neck is injured and you dont know it
I used to have a problem with my weight, but doing 3 days of hard cardio for an hour (such as on an elliptical) with 2 days of low weight, high repetition exercises can help you drop weight fast. Also, I know that you said that you have not been eating much lately, but you still need to take in 1500 - 1800 calories a day. Less than that, and your body will actually store more fat so that it has something to burn if necessary.
I've been having the same problem. I'm 15 years-old and 6'1, I am a little overweight but I'm very active. I weigh approximately 207 lbs, I lnow it's a bit too much for my BMI but I go running every morning, do vigourous, fat-burning excersises in order to make sure that I lose weight, but I eat a lot but lately I have been eating very; I just never feel like eating. Anyways I digress since about the start of this week I have beem experiencing extremely painful head aches from the top of my head all the way to the back. For example I was outside and did 118 jump ropes. (I box, I'm not a little girl :P) Everything seemed all right until about the 105-110 mark. It got so bad I lost my footing and haf to stop. Once I had stopped I verbally expressed the pain, that's how bad it was, also my hands were clapsed around my head in pain the second time it has happened to me severely was today I was doing tri-ups, and I have a pretty good upper-body build so I can ussualy do around 45-65. As i was reaching the 15 mark my head started to pound in what felt like the same area. I couldn't do any past 20. Can anyone help me and possibly give me a good fat-burning schedule? Thank you so much for the help. (BTW I don't lift weights anymore ever since I was a kid.)
I've been having the same problem. I'm 15 years-old and 6'1, I am a little overweight but I'm very active. I weigh approximately 207 lbs, I lnow it's a bit too much for my BMI but I go running every morning, do vigourous, fat-burning excersises in order to make sure that I lose weight, but I eat a lot but lately I have been eating very; I just never feel like eating. Anyways I digress since about the start of this week I have beem experiencing extremely painful head aches from the top of my head all the way to the back. For example I was outside and did 118 jump ropes. (I box, I'm not a little girl :P) Everything seemed all right until about the 105-110 mark. It got so bad I lost my footing and haf to stop. Once I had stopped I verbally expressed the pain, that's how bad it was, also my hands were clapsed around my head in pain the second time it has happened to me severely was today I was doing tri-ups, and I have a pretty good upper-body build so I can ussualy do around 45-65. As i was reaching the 15 mark my head started to pound in what felt like the same area. I couldn't do any past 20. Can anyone help me and possibly give me a good fat-burning schedule? Thank you so much for the help. (BTW I don't lift weights anymore ever since I was a kid.)
I am 30 now, my first one happened my 10th or 11th grade year. I have not had one in between though. But the one I had two days ago, I instantly knew that it was the same as the one I had before, just not quite as bad...or maybe I can just manage pain a little better with the amount of stuff I have gone through since then.
Still, 2 days later, I am feeling it. It is not bad when I first wake up, but within an hour I start to feel it, and it progressively grows throughout the day and by the end of the day, I just want to try shut down and sleep it off again...
Still, 2 days later, I am feeling it. It is not bad when I first wake up, but within an hour I start to feel it, and it progressively grows throughout the day and by the end of the day, I just want to try shut down and sleep it off again...
How long ago was your first? How long continually have you suffered the headaches?
I do plan to diary this, so to speak. My goal is to work through it. I followed someone's advice and began a five minute run before hitting the weights. I felt fine! I made my way over to the curl bar. Did 80 lbs X 8, no problems. Waited 2 minutes and could only get 90 lbs up 3 times before the pain began again. I stopped immediately and left. This ***** so much...all the work I've put in, and I cannot continue. I will use this as a "meant to be," and concentrate on cardio and abs (which I usually ignore), and wait 1 full week. I will let you know next week, and next time lighten the load a little... The good news is that through my research, most people recover. Mayo Clinic says it is "self-limiting," which means it goes away on its own. It seems there are many misdiagnosis (pinched nerves, etc). All of the triggers referenced by 'horeind' are the same as exertion headaches. However his is a pinched nerve, which has never fully healed. Most everyone with just the random out-of-the-blue exertion headache says around 1 month to 6 months it goes away. I sure hope so!
Same here as every one else, been to all kind of doctors, therapists, massagers and headaches keep on coming back. So far on this thread we all are craving for results, anyone had one? Please be concrete. Thank you
You are reading content posted in the Exercise & Fitness Community
14 super-healthy foods that are worth the hype
Small changes make a big impact with these easy ways to cut hundreds of calories a day.
Forget the fountain of youth – try flossing instead! Here are 11 surprising ways to live longer.
From STD tests to mammograms, find out which screening tests you need - and when to get them.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
