EXERTION HEADACHES

Exertion headaches are often known as activity-related headaches. They share symptoms with migraines induced by physical activities and cough complications. Cough headaches are more common than exertion headaches.

Exertion headaches mainly affect younger people, from youth to age 50. This kind of headache commonly happens with lengthy exercise periods. The headache customarily pops up during exercise and the pain fades when the exercise stops. Nevertheless, in some circumstances exertion headaches can last for two days. Exertion headaches may additionally have symptoms similar to migraines, such as nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sensitivity to sound.

Elevated blood pressure in the blood vessels of the brain is called venous pressure. Primary exertion headaches have no harm. However, any underlying purpose of the headaches have to be ruled out first to be certain that a more severe condition isn’t causing the pain.

The following physical activities can trigger exertion headaches:

  • Weight lifting
  • Playing tennis
  • Running, particularly long distances
  • Rowing
  • Swimming
  • Scuba diving
  • Sexual activity

Other factors that contribute to exertion headaches include:

  • Poor nutrition
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Heat
  • High humidity
  • Change in the barometric pressure
  • Exercise at high altitudes
  • Caffeine
  • Low blood sugar

The International Headache Society defines Exertion headache as:

  • A pulsating or throbbing headache with the characteristics listed in B and C
  • Head pain lasts five minutes to 48 hours
  • Headache is brought on by and only happens during or after physical exertion
  • Headache is not caused by another disorder

DIAGNOSIS

An exertion headache is most often harmless, but in rare circumstances it can mimic aneurysm signs or a brain tumor.

If you experience your first exertion headache all of the sudden, contact your healthcare professional for recommendations. When you have other signs or a family history of brain aneurysms, your physician may order imaging tests similar to a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging to determine that all is well.

 

TREATMENT

Have a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen 30 minutes earlier before your exercise sessions. Your health care provider may just prescribe another NSAID known as indomethacin (Indocin), which is also used for headache treatment.

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