Headaches After Exercise: Causes and Relief

Headaches Caused by Exercise: Causes, Types, and Effective Methods for Dealing with Them

Headaches after exercise are a medical phenomenon that you should not ignore

According to Dr. Hisham, after completing various types of exercise and the body and muscle temperature returning to normal, and shifting from a state of readiness and activity to a normal state of relaxation, some female athletes may feel pain or ache in the head; This is if the strength or heart intensity is high or low. In general, it is not uncommon to experience a headache after exercising, but doctors divide exertion-induced headaches into two categories: Primary exertional headaches are usually harmless, not associated with any underlying problems, and can often be prevented with medications. Note that secondary headache attacks result from exertion due to underlying and often serious problems inside the brain, such as: “bleeding or tumor,” or outside the brain, such as: “coronary artery disease.” Therefore, you must consult a specialist doctor immediately.

Sports headaches have different types

Dr. Hisham added, as I mentioned before, there are two types of sports headaches, one of which is simple and can be easily treated and prevented, and the other is serious and requires going to a specialist doctor. They are as follows:

Primary sports headache

A sudden headache that a woman or girl experiences during or after strenuous exercise. Doctors have not yet discovered the causes of it, but they believe that the expansion of blood vessels inside the skull and the increase in blood flow in it during exercise is the reason behind feeling annoying head pain, which is accompanied by some other symptoms, including:

• Severe pain in both sides of the head.
• It is often pulsating.
• Numbness in the head.
• It disappears after a few minutes or two hours at most.

Secondary sports headache

The most dangerous type of sports headache, and requires the woman to go to a specialist doctor, as a result of the multiple health problems that cause this condition, the most prominent of which are:

• Brain hemorrhage.
• Brain cancer.
• Deformities in the blood vessels leading to the brain.
• Obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow.
• Chronic sinusitis.
• Birth defects in the brain, neck, or spine that affect blood flow.

Symptoms of secondary sports headaches last from one day to several days, then disappear and reappear, including:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Double vision.
• Stiff neck.
• Dizziness.
• Loss of consciousness.

Sports headaches are linked to these causes

Dr. Hisham explained that the occurrence of headaches in general after exercising any physical or muscular effort for a certain period of time is linked to several reasons that may serve as warning signals that the method of exercising is wrong or that there is a medical problem that should be paid attention to. As for the various reasons, they are:

Trouble breathing

The breathing process and its control are among the most important things that must be taken into account while exercising, because any defect in breathing control greatly limits physical endurance, which reduces the athletic level. Lack of control of breathing during physical exertion or lifting weights also causes an imbalance in the amount of oxygen reaching the brain, which ultimately leads to headaches.

Violent sports style

A woman or girl may feel recurring headaches after finishing exercise, if she follows a vigorous exercise pattern such as: “fitness exercises, or cardio, and swimming in addition to CrossFit,” which may cause a heart rhythm disturbance. Here you may need to see a cardiologist to check on the health of the heart and its tolerance for the physical effort being exerted.

Neglecting stretching and warm-up exercises

Exercising directly and neglecting stretching and warm-up exercises does not cause post-exercise headaches, simply because the brain is not prepared for the sudden heavy blood flow; Rather, it exposes the muscles of a woman or girl’s body to many various injuries, including tears and muscle strains.

The body’s need for additional energy

A woman or girl suffering from a headache after exercise may be due to her body’s need for additional energy. Therefore, drinks that contain caffeine, such as: “sugar-free coffee,” are one of the drinks that you should be sure to consume at least 45 minutes before exercising. This is because it reduces the area and size of blood vessels, thus reducing and controlling the rapid and violent rush of blood to the brain, which prevents headaches after completing exercise.

Low blood sugar

Recurring headaches after exercising are important indicators of low blood sugar. Therefore, drinking fresh, sugar-free orange juice or sports drinks at least 45 minutes before exercising is an effective solution to solve this problem.

Low levels of magnesium in the body

Magnesium is considered one of the most important elements that must be available in ideal levels within the body to support the body’s capabilities and physical performance. Therefore, a low percentage of magnesium in a woman or girl’s body may cause her to feel a headache after exerting any violent or moderate muscular and physical effort. In general, the solution here lies in taking medical magnesium supplements or eating foods that contain it on a regular basis.

Hot climate

One of the causes of feeling a headache after completing exercises is exercising in an open environment in a hot and dry climate. This leads to dehydration and loss of fluids from the body and muscles. Therefore, a woman or girl must be provided with appropriate amounts of water every 15 minutes to protect the body and muscles from dehydration and thus prevent exercise headaches.

Effective methods for dealing with sports headaches

In this regard, Dr. Hisham emphasized that a woman or girl who suffers from recurring headaches after exercising or exerting herself needs to talk to a doctor first in order to rule out any serious causes, and that the matter is limited only to exercising.

• Avoid exercising in hot, humid weather.
• Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
• Exercise in air conditioning whenever possible, or in moderate weather; Because the chances of headache attacks increase, as a result of high temperature and humidity.
• Be careful when doing excessive weight lifting exercises, running, rowing, swimming, and soccer.
• Eat protein about an hour and a half before starting your workout.
• Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes before you begin any form of strenuous exercise.
• Make sure to eat foods that are rich in fluids, to keep the body hydrated and protect it from dehydration.
• Stop exercising when you feel headaches.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sports headaches are a common phenomenon that can occur after exercising or exerting oneself. They can be caused by various factors, including trouble breathing, violent sports style, neglecting stretching and warm-up exercises, the body’s need for additional energy, low blood sugar, low levels of magnesium in the body, and hot climate. It is essential to take the necessary precautions and follow effective methods to prevent and treat sports headaches.

FAQs

Q: What are the symptoms of primary sports headaches?
A: Symptoms of primary sports headaches include severe pain in both sides of the head, pulsating pain, numbness in the head, and disappearing after a few minutes or two hours at most.

Q: What are the symptoms of secondary sports headaches?
A: Symptoms of secondary sports headaches include nausea, vomiting, double vision, stiff neck, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

Q: What are the causes of sports headaches?
A: The causes of sports headaches include trouble breathing, violent sports style, neglecting stretching and warm-up exercises, the body’s need for additional energy, low blood sugar, low levels of magnesium in the body, and hot climate.

Q: How can I prevent sports headaches?
A: You can prevent sports headaches by avoiding exercising in hot, humid weather, drinking plenty of water before, during and after exercise, exercising in air conditioning whenever possible, or in moderate weather, being careful when doing excessive weight lifting exercises, running, rowing, swimming, and soccer, eating protein about an hour and a half before starting your workout, warming up for 5 to 10 minutes before you begin any form of strenuous exercise, and making sure to eat foods that are rich in fluids, to keep the body hydrated and protect it from dehydration.