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Exercise-Induced Headaches Are Real...

Friday, 09 June 2017 23:10

ED. Tough day at Liberty. Weather was totally uncooperative. Still, Kort picked up her 8th career half IM victory. David Holden won Liberty Olympic for the 3rd time. More words on Tuesday. RESULTS

By Jordan D, Metzl, M.D. (triathlete.com)

Ever get a sudden, intense, throbbing headache, on both sides of your head, during or after a workout or race? You’re not crazy—exercise really can cause some monster cranial pain. Here’s everything you need to know about exercise-induced headaches, and how to prevent them.

There are two kinds of exercise headaches, primary and secondary. One is painful but ultimately harmless. The other can be scary. No one is sure what causes primary exercise-induced headaches, which makes them frustrating. They most commonly come on after running, weight lifting or another hard, strenuous activity. Hot weather and training at a high altitude may contribute, and poor hydration could factor in as well. Determining the true cause of these headaches is sketchy because they seem so individual, but dilated blood vessels in and around your brain could contribute. This type of headache comes and goes and is treated like most headaches....

The secondary type of exercise-induced headache is caused by some underlying health problem, but even those vary widely. Bleeding in the membrane surrounding the brain, a problem with the blood vessels in the brain, a tumor or even a sinus infection could be the cause. How can you tell the difference between the two types?  READ MORE