headaches while lifting

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piccione

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Yesterday While i was deadlifting, i got a severe headache in the back of my head. I thought it was just from my technique. But today I was doing a light chest workout and on my first set on the bench the same thing happend. So I was wondering if anyone has ever had this happen, or knows the cause of it any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Yes, it has happened to me. I am not a doctor, so please don't rely on me as a expert.

Here is what I did:

I took about a week off and waited for my head to feel better. I decided that I must have done some damage to a blood vessel to increased pressure in my dome. In an effort to avoid further brain pain I now make a concious effort to breath out during every rep.

If you are having pain while not lifting, go see a doctor.
 
It's an exertion headache. It occurs during heavy exertion, usually a sharp pain in the back of the head/neck that leaves a lasting pain from several hours to a day or more. It can occur from not breathing properly, over exerting, and even during exertion while having sex. It will subside over time, but once you get one it will tend to come back more easily (usually for a few weeks after you get a severe case). After a while you should be able to feel when the headache is about to come. The pain is usually delayed somewhat and you can feel it build up during exertion so you will know when to back off. I'd suggest you take some painkillers and wait till the pain is completely gone before lifting again. Lighten up a little bit and be careful when you do any strenous activities.
 
I posted on this a few weeks back. I went to the doctor, (would get further in depth, but i would just fuck up what he told me)but i do remember I was supposed to take a month off and let it completely heal before doing any heavy lifting(he also said that if it came back again to give it another few weeks, but fuck that). Its been about three weeks now, so another week or so i can get back and try it out. Ill let you know how i make out.
 
I had these off and on for a few months but they were in the front of my head. One day they just stopped. Not sure what the hell happened, but I am happy they're gone. A few times since then I thought I "felt" them start to come back, but they haven't yet (knock on wood). Nothing ruins a workout more than getting a headache so intense you can't even think straight.

All the symptoms I had pointed to these being exertion headaches.
 
chia said:
It's an exertion headache. It occurs during heavy exertion, usually a sharp pain in the back of the head/neck that leaves a lasting pain from several hours to a day or more. It can occur from not breathing properly, over exerting, and even during exertion while having sex. It will subside over time, but once you get one it will tend to come back more easily (usually for a few weeks after you get a severe case). After a while you should be able to feel when the headache is about to come. The pain is usually delayed somewhat and you can feel it build up during exertion so you will know when to back off. I'd suggest you take some painkillers and wait till the pain is completely gone before lifting again. Lighten up a little bit and be careful when you do any strenous activities.
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I had this happen to me too, it was a recurring thing but seems to have gone away for the most part. I once did a 20 rep overhead squat and it was one of the most painful things I've experienced.
 
Make sure you are completely hydrated as well. As it seems the only time I get headaches from lifting or exercising is when I'm dehydrated.
 
tom sumter said:
Make sure you are completely hydrated as well. As it seems the only time I get headaches from lifting or exercising is when I'm dehydrated.
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Same thing for me. I always get headaches when lifting if I haven't been drinking enough water throughout the day.
 
Hydration and jogging to get your blood flowing. This will expand your blood vessels and allow blood to flow more easliy during entense workouts. I had this happen to me. I needed at least a month off. If I jog for about 4 to 5 minutes prior to working out then I can go as hard as I want without any headaches.

Wolverine
///
 
I have had headaches while working out
I just worked through it
it had an on and off sort of thing for about three months
but then stopped
I have not thought about those headaches since i read your thread
 
perhaps fish oil(8-10+g) or aspirin(81mg...enteric coated)? to thin the blood out?...just throwing it out there....ask your doc before u do anything...
 
this actually only happened twice on leg presses, i think it's because of overtensing my neck and not forgetting to breathe properly. i've never had the problem with squats or deads - remember to use your traps and shoulders to brace weight and force, dont overflex your neck
 
It was always dehydration whenever this happened to me (even the few nights in high school over the summer I came in hung over).
 
bejak said:
I have had headaches while working out
I just worked through it
it had an on and off sort of thing for about three months
but then stopped
I have not thought about those headaches since i read your thread
Click to expand...

The headaches i had would have been next to impossible to work through, the felt like they were doing perminent damage to my brain. Ive taken my month off, and now have had 4 workouts without the headaches returning. Im just concentrating on warming up properly and breathing properly, as some of the guys told me to do. Seems to be doing the trick.
 
Although this thread is old I thought I would comment nonetheless.. since it seems like alot of people have experienced similar issues.

This happened to me a few years back... when lifting anything strenuous I would instantly get a racking headache. I went to the doctors, they were puzzled... in fact so puzzled they ordered a CAT scan.

As it turns out I had blocked eustachian (ear) tubes... did not even know it... had no other obvious symptoms. No cold, runny nose, etc. The doctor told me to take some mucinex and a claritanD, and within a few hours the problem was gone.
 
DEVILsSON said:
perhaps fish oil(8-10+g) or aspirin(81mg...enteric coated)? to thin the blood out?...just throwing it out there....ask your doc before u do anything...
Click to expand...
Both good ideas.

I get headaches in my sinuses due to the famous Valsalva (sp?) effect (Pushing against the airways while your holding your breath), but they usually clear out pretty quickly.

You may be tensing your neck muscles when you lift (honestly, it would be hard not to) and that contraction could be giving you the effect of a tension headache.

Try to focus on keeping the neck muscles more relaxed when you're doing a lift that doesn't directly involve them.

If nothing seems to make the headaches go away, I'd get some blood work done. It would be stupid to hurt (or kill) yourself because you didn't get a relatively simple test.
 
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