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Exercise-Induced Headaches

© Barbara J. Mitchell

There's no question that exercise is good for all of us. Lack of exercise is what's making us a nation (U.S. or Canada, take your pick) of obese people gasping for air at the slightest exertion. A certain amount of exercise is a good idea for people with everything from arthritis to migraines. It's an excellent antidote for mild depression as well.

Exercise causes the body to release endorphins which are its natural painkillers. Got a tension headache? Having a bad day? Feeling blue? Go for a brisk walk and I guarantee you'll feel better.

The flip side, though, is that excessive exertion can cause migraines. In fact, they're sometimes called weightlifters' headaches. Experts claim such exertion as lifting weights can cause muscle spasms in the upper body and those spasms can, in turn, cause headaches.

This isn't a common condition. In a recent study, for instance, a headache in athletes called benign exertional headache was seen in only 1% of participants. We aren't talking here about headaches from too many headers in a soccer player, or the beating a rugby player takes, or post-traumatic headaches from concussions, or other injuries.

"Exertional" headaches are caused by straining, such as when you lift weights. The pain comes on suddenly, then after a bit it settles into a dull ache which lasts from minutes to hours.

One theory is that these headaches happen because the strain elevates the arterial pressure in the head so venous sinuses at the base of the brain dilate. In studies of weightlifters, an athlete lifting the maximum weight he can handle experiences a sharp rise in his blood pressure.

Then there are the more common "effort" headaches caused by excessive aerobic exercise in a variety of sports including running. Hot weather is a factor in many of these headaches. The athlete may have premigraine symptoms, then the headache for a period of hours.

Recent studies have shown that exercise-induced headaches that go away with rest may be a sign of cardiac disease, and that the headaches may be the only symptom at the time. Again, this isn't common, but it is something to be aware of, particularly if you have risk factors for heart disease such as a family history, hypertension, diabetes, or a history of smoking.

Three other exercise-induced headaches are sort of self-explanatory: swimmer's headache from jumping into cold water; goggle headaches from wearing goggles that are too tight (and therefore easily remedied); diver's headache which is possibly due to a build-up of carbon dioxide, gripping the mouthpiece too tightly, or an ear problem; and the so-called footballer's headache which is the one caused by headers in soccer.

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