Headaches after working out

MadCatLady302
MadCatLady302 Posts: 16 Member
edited November 16 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone. I'm relatively new to working out. I have been going to the gym to do brisk walks on the treadmill as well as lightly using some strength training equipment. But 3-4 hours after coming home I am experiencing headaches (dull ache in forehead) that won't go away without painkillers. I drink my usual amount on gym days as well as a bottle of water whilst there and a bottle of water upon arriving home. I sweat, but not buckets so I can't see it being dehydration?? :s Does anyone have any suggestions? I've no health conditions / illnesses etc either.

Replies

  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    Are you replacing the electrolytes lost while sweating? You lose sodium when you sweat and if you are drinking more water, it causes an electrolyte imbalance.

    Sprinkle a bit of salt in your water to help restore lost electrolytes.
  • JB035
    JB035 Posts: 336 Member
    Are you bending your head backwards (straining really hard with your neck) when lifting?
    If so this creates a lot of problems with blood flow to your brain along with other neurological restrictions. It will lead to a headache.

  • ffswmn
    ffswmn Posts: 30 Member
    When I was working with a trainer, and experienced headaches, she told me to pay more attention to my breathing. She said I was holding my breath while lifting.
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    ffswmn wrote: »
    When I was working with a trainer, and experienced headaches, she told me to pay more attention to my breathing. She said I was holding my breath while lifting.

    Along with this, I used to tense up when lifting and I got horrible headaches. Relax and breath. Now other than possible dehydration if I'm not paying attention, don't get the headaches.
  • gkorn17
    gkorn17 Posts: 6 Member
    Go see a physical therapist to get properly assessed. I've treated a few people like this with success. Tough to know without a proper assessment.
  • JB035
    JB035 Posts: 336 Member
    edited February 2017
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    ffswmn wrote: »
    When I was working with a trainer, and experienced headaches, she told me to pay more attention to my breathing. She said I was holding my breath while lifting.

    Along with this, I used to tense up when lifting and I got horrible headaches. Relax and breath. Now other than possible dehydration if I'm not paying attention, don't get the headaches.

    Last year a guy had to stop lifting at our gym (doctors orders) for a couple of weeks behind this tensing up thing, especially the neck area.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    Relax and breath.

    op didn't mention her type of lifting but for compound lifts, bracing your abs around a big indrawn breath is usually part of the form.

    the trick is remembering to let it out during the second 'half' of the rep. i've given myself a few headaches that way, though they feel more like the eyeballs-about-to-pop kind.

  • JB035
    JB035 Posts: 336 Member
    canadianlbs wrote: »
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    Relax and breath.

    op didn't mention her type of lifting but for compound lifts, bracing your abs around a big indrawn breath is usually part of the form.

    the trick is remembering to let it out during the second 'half' of the rep. i've given myself a few headaches that way, though they feel more like the eyeballs-about-to-pop kind.

    I'd have to disagree with that. Id say you want to keep that breath until you finish the rep. Exhale once complete then take another if you're hitting multiple reps. Reason being is if you lose your stability under a load you are more likely to miss a lift.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    JB035 wrote: »
    I'd have to disagree with that. Id say you want to keep that breath until you finish the rep. Exhale once complete then take another if you're hitting multiple reps. Reason being is if you lose your stability under a load you are more likely to miss a lift.

    i definitely have the you-can-breathe-when-it's-over habit myself. but i've seen and heard plenty of people who clearly know what they're doing do the little sst-ssst thing as well, so idunno. could just be that my trainer doesn't want me having a middle-aged smoker's aneurism on his home turf. i don't think that a controlled release necessarily does kill your stability; i just find it too complicated to manage that at the same time as everything else, so i forget to do it.

    heh. and then there's the guy in my 'club' who pulled ten heavy deadlifts in a row while we all watched. and at the end of it somebody said 'you know, buddy, breathing's also a thing'.

    he said 'oh, that's allowed?' every single one of us fell for it, but he was just messing with us.

  • MadCatLady302
    MadCatLady302 Posts: 16 Member
    sammyliftsandeats wrote: »
    Are you replacing the electrolytes lost while sweating? You lose sodium when you sweat and if you are drinking more water, it causes an electrolyte imbalance.

    Sprinkle a bit of salt in your water to help restore lost electrolytes.

    Hi, the bottled water I drink is called "Smart Water" and claims to have added electrolytes in it.
  • MadCatLady302
    MadCatLady302 Posts: 16 Member
    JB035 wrote: »
    Are you bending your head backwards (straining really hard with your neck) when lifting?
    If so this creates a lot of problems with blood flow to your brain along with other neurological restrictions. It will lead to a headache.

    I've not noticed to be honest (I don't think so). I'll have to keep an eye on it when I next go.
  • MadCatLady302
    MadCatLady302 Posts: 16 Member
    ffswmn wrote: »
    When I was working with a trainer, and experienced headaches, she told me to pay more attention to my breathing. She said I was holding my breath while lifting.

    I'll keep an eye on this.
  • MadCatLady302
    MadCatLady302 Posts: 16 Member
    canadianlbs wrote: »
    Stella3838 wrote: »
    Relax and breath.

    op didn't mention her type of lifting but for compound lifts, bracing your abs around a big indrawn breath is usually part of the form.

    I've only been using the Shoulder Press Machine and the Leg Extension machine and using Dumbbells and resistance bands at home.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Not enough water? Caffeine withdrawal?
  • cheezinchels
    cheezinchels Posts: 8 Member
    How much water are you drinking a day? I aim for a gallon a day! It has helped with my headaches a lot. Also make sure to stretch your neck after exercise to try and relieve some of the tension.
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