Exertion Headaches while Working Out in the Gym

Tips to get rid of headaches caused from hard exercise.

An Exertion Headache is a headache that's brought on by high intensity exercise. It is more common among men than women.

Exertional headaches usually consist of a throbbing or pulsating pain that lasts from as short as a few minutes to several hours. The pain is usually severe at the onset, and then gradually decreases. If the headache pain lasts longer than that, you should get it checked out by your doctor.

To help get rid of an exercise induced exertion headache you should immediately stop whatever exercise or activity you're doing and focus on taking deep breaths to try and relax your body. Breathe deep into your belly. Doing this should help reduce the headache pain within a few minutes.

After that do some light stretching for your neck, shoulders, and back to help release any tension that you have in these areas. A lot of times when you have excessive muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and back this reduces proper blood flow and circulation to your head, and could cause the head aches.

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You can see my Stretching Video Playlist at:
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You can do these stretches on a regular basis and as part of your pre-workout warm up routine.

After the stretching and deep breathing your headache pain should be reduced and you maybe able to continue on with your workout at a reduced intensity. Lighten up the weights, stop your sets short of failure, and take longer rest breaks between sets.

You should purposely train easier like this for the next few workouts and monitor how you feel. As long as you avoid getting the exertion headaches, you can gradually increase your training intensity day by day until you are back to training at 100%.

But if the headaches return frequently, then play it safe and get it checked out by your doctor to ensure that there's no underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed.

This covers the fundamentals of proper nutrition and will ensure that you have your basis covered.

[Rvu]

Dude..this headaches pissed me off so much. And i get it frequently

[iwontreplybacklol]

If you can't give 100% effort in the gym due to a headache, you should just go home. All you're gonna do is waste your time, digging your body deeper into stress. Go home and relax, get your nutrition in and recover for the next time. Ppl think lifting weights is easy and dumb work, bit it takes a very smart and skilled person to lift heavy weights without injuries!

[martin]

I am considering just taking a break for the rest of the week because of this (except cardio). Because I am just never careful enough. And I truly hate not being able to push myself. It's very demotivating for me for some reason.

[yogi]

finding this video made me cry, I was at the relief that there is a cure to this. thanks, man, really appreciate the video.

[petervamvakaries]

This video is not famous but it's extremely helpful.

[jaskaransinghsaund]

The head/ neck stretch worked for me ending my headache in under 5 minutes! I am so glad you made this video its detailed and on point, thank you!

[blisterybrushyomomma]

I just know the back of my head is killing me

[ellulturner]

I think its when your blood pressure is higher than usual, I normally get them when I've had more salt than normal that particular day

[abelmoreira]

I've been getting them for doing pull ups and chin ups, I don't know what to do

[umr_arf]

i was pushing my limits in pushups and that slow pain suddenly felt like a fire going inside of my head then i laid down for minute, i thought i was gonna die, this is the worst headache I've ever felt in my life, if you know you will know

[sphumelelesijadu]

I was on the Leg Press today and on my last set, got a crazy headache. It felt like my eyeball was about to fall off.

I called it a day and left. I was left in with calf raises and an abb workout. I'll do them tomorrow.

Never going to the gym without eating for a while again!!

[captainprice]

I was getting these but it was because I pulled a trap muscle due to maxing out, but I'm glad it happened because my body got rest for a week or two and when I went back to lifting I came back stronger. but I'm glad you did this video Lee

[derick]

During my last two leg days doing squats, and today doing pullups, near the last reps of a set, I got this really strong and sudden headache at the base of the skull on the left side that radiates to one eye. It mostly dissipates within 5-10 minutes but I'm a little concerned as it's stopping me from working out after that point. It never happened before with the same weights and volume.

[swaeleeray-]

Clear and straight to the point, great video by the way.

[cypraith]

Several days ago during my final set and final rep of seated biceps curls, I was about to fail, but instead found some inner strength and exerted every last bit of power I had in me straining my entire body and got the rep up. As soon as I lowered the weights and dropped them it was like a grenade went off in my head, absolutely agonizing pain ricocheted around my head. It has recurred the the past few days since then to a much lesser degree, but still very painful and frustrating. Hoping that following this video to a T will help solve this problem lol...

[case]

I started hitting the gym again about four week ago and everything was going just fine until this past Saturday morning when I got a really bad exertion headache while squatting. Happened after my 3rd rep of my 2nd set. Finished my sets and eventually the rest of my workout after taking a little break. The next morning, it came back right away, full force, after doing some barbell rows. Finished my sets, took a little break, then finished the rest of my workout. Ended up coming back again the next morning after doing some dumbbell presses, but not nearly as bad that time. Took a couple days off, went back yesterday morning for another leg workout and got another really bad headache after doing a few squats and I did not finish my workout that time. It’s been well over 24 hours and I’m still feeling some very slight tension in my head

[ryonarushima]

I was running uphill then walking downwards when I felt my head throbbing and a mild stabbing pain, I wasn't finished with my running session so I thought jokingly "well, we all have to die sooner or later, I won't let the pain dictate my life, I will do one last run". When I finished and walked down again I had the worst stabbing headache I've ever felt in my life, mainly at the front of my head, I felt dizzy and sick and couldn't think straight. I barely walked home and almost had to call the ambulance because I thought I was dying, it lasted for an hour and I can still feel some of the aftermath. Lesson learned I guess: NEVER push through head pain, doesn't worth it.

[samy]

This was such a helpful video!! I was at my football weight lifting and while I finished squatting my last rep heavy weight I got this really bad headache. It went away after about 30 minutes but again today I was benching and it came back. I am going to go less intensity for the next few weeks and give my body a good amount of rest so i can get back to the high exursion compound lifts. Thank you!🙏

[danielaldana]

I got my first Wednesday. It was extremely painful. I tried to push thru like an idiot. A week later I’m still getting headaches daily, talked to doctor, he said to take 2-4 weeks off working out

[apoorvsharma]

My working tips for sure . Just reduce the weights you. Choose to workout . And try to be calm while working out .dont stress your nerves . For 2 to 3 weeks . Just stick to the nutrition . You will never loose your performance .and use a pain killer tube and apply on back of the neck 3 to 4 times a day