What Are the Causes of Exertional Headaches

Exertional headaches can occur due to environmental causes such as vigorous exercise, dehydration and too much heat, or they can indicate an underlying medical reason. Whatever the reason, the person who experiences exertional headaches runs the risk of developing one every time he exercises or does hard physical work.

Exercise

• One possible cause of exertional headaches is the dilation of blood vessels within the skull during or after strenuous exercise. One person in 100 develops this type of headache, which presents with a throbbing pain, sometimes felt on both sides of the head or in the back. After the first severe spurt of pain, it will become a dull ache which will remain for several hours. Other reasons for this type of headache include changes in intracranial (inside the skull) pressure during or after strenuous exercise. If it is hot and the person is at a high altitude, these conditions can make exertional headaches worse. The activities which are most associated with exertional headaches are soccer (due to the act of heading the ball), tennis, rowing, running and weightlifting.

Secondary Exercise Headaches

• Physical conditions which contribute to secondary exercise headaches should be checked by a physician as these conditions can be potentially serious. These include: sinus infections, bleeding in the area between the brain and the membrane covering the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage), periodic obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid, blood vessel abnormalities; these vessels can be in the brain or leading to the brain, reduced blood flow in the vessels going to the heart and brain tumors (cancerous and non cancerous).

Sexual Activity

• The "sex headache" is one form of exertional headache. It takes place during or after lovemaking or after orgasm. The pain can be severe and it could last for some hours. Blood vessels within the brain have dilated during sex, and changes in blood pressure are also to blame.

Dehydration

• When a person who is susceptible to exertional headaches is preparing to exercise (work out or mow the lawn), she should drink water before starting her physical activity and frequently during this activity. Exercising in hot weather and becoming dehydrated can contribute to the headache, although lack of fluid and overheating are not necessary for this condition.

Cardiac Problems

• The person with cardiac problems (diagnosed or undiagnosed) can develop an exertional headache because of reduced blood flow in the vessels which go to the heart. These headaches can last for days and may be more common in people in their 40s. This headache can be coupled with symptoms of neck rigidity, vomiting or double vision. If a person experiences these symptoms, he needs to receive emergency care immediately.