Headaches when working out. What could be wrong

[phishers]

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

[Hindle12R]

I was very heavy into weight lifting back in high school. Upon doing cable crossovers one day I found myself on my knees with still holding the cables above my head. A couple of other guys in the gym had come over to see if I was OK. I completely went unconscious and fell to the floor. My head was throbbing so bad that I could barely make out what the guys were saying. Afterwards I would get these headaches after only one or two reps of anything relating to my shoulders.
This was the start of the end of weightlifting for me. Unfortunately back then (1992) there was no info on “Primary exertional Headaches” or “weightlifters headache” as is sometimes referred to.
Ends up with a stiff neck, out of control throbbing headache. Can also be triggered by having sex, typically during the orgasm (as happened to me this morning).
When this first started for me I was very young and partied too much. It has never really gone away. I have tried sooooo many times to get back on the weights. 20 years later still fighting it.
I agree with making sure that the neck is relaxed during the workout. But there is so much more and trust me, you won’t find the answer in just one fix. Try the following: limit caffeine and alcohol for a couple of days before you know youre going to exert yourself. Practice relaxation methods while exerting. Make sure you don’t have any secondary causes such as brain tumors or brain bleeds. Limit stress (people underestimate stress). I will be quitting coffee, limiting alcohol (no more drunkenness, just a couple drinks max, always capable of driving without possibility of an impaired), getting back on the massages, and back into healthy eating.
If you end up with a headache, try ibuprofen taken with some form of caffeine (redbull). It’s about the only thing that works for me. Unfortunately it will take a while for it to go away.
I never saw much of this as I never did get back into weightlifting. I ended up in a career, got married and had children. Now my boys are getting a little older and I naturally want to be a good role model so I have been trying to get the family into waterskiing. Guess what….triggers a headache. I can ski once per day and then I have to sit on the boat in pain.
I guess there is some drugs you can take before you exert yourself to help keep the symptoms at bay (cause we all want to be pill poppers, right?). Propranolol, Indomethacin, Naproxen are such drugs I’ve heard of. I will make sure my doctor approves and then if he does I’ll have him prescribe some.
I don’t envy anyone who goes through this. It’s a game changer for sure.

[sanjayasg]

Hey guys,, I am 25, wt 50, wanted to put some good wt. so started going to gym from almost a month. And now I am here as I am also facing the same as you all. This headache is killing me,earlier I ignored this because I am ding workout after a long time but...:( I get half headache just after 10 mins of workout and continuing that I feel like whole my head will explode & will quit workout. I got a PT .. but no use.. Can someone please help.. I seriously want to put some good wt & muscle..

[Paddy2012]

Can I ask, do all of you sleep face down?  This is the third time I have got these headaches so I am now wondering if it is because of the way I sleep.  Perhaps i need to not sleep face down and invest in an ergonomic pillow, any thoughts?

[SoupyUnicorn]

I am 18 years old and have been weight lifting for 3 years. I take whey, casein, a multivitamin, and arginine. Just last week I started to get throbbing head aches in the back left side of my head. This happened to me before 2 years ago while squatting and now started to happen on my last few reps on bench. I have been lifting though the pain and eventually it subsides during my work out.  Now whenever I push my self in the gym, climb stairs, have sex/masturbate I get the same exact head ache. The head ache even comes and goes as it pleases throughout the day in the same exact location.  I scheduled an appointment to see a doctor hopefully he can help me out. I will be back. Hopefully it is nothing too serious

[SoupyUnicorn]

I am 18 years old and have been weight lifting for 3 years. I take whey, casein, a multivitamin, and arginine. Just last week I started to get throbbing head aches in the back left side of my head. This happened to me before 2 years ago while squatting and now started to happen on my last few reps on bench. I have been lifting though the pain and eventually it subsides during my work out.  Now whenever I push my self in the gym, climb stairs, have sex/masturbate I get the same exact head ache. The head ache even comes and goes as it pleases throughout the day in the same exact location.  I scheduled an appointment to see a doctor hopefully he can help me out. I will be back. Hopefully it is nothing too serious

[Lstam]

I m 26 years old, I have been workingout for more than 5 years. This is the first time I m having headache while working out, it's been a week now. Every time when I pushed myself to the limit, my left side of my head hurts like he'll and forced m to stop. Left sidevof my neck hurts too. I m wondering if I had too much workout these past few months, I workout 5-6 days a week, an hr and a half each time, quit taking protein shake from Jugo juice since the beginning of this year. I dunno what's wrong with me.