Exertion headache: what should you know?

Running, lifting, coughing, vigorous sport, or sexual activity can briefly increase pressure and blood flow inside the head. Some exertion headaches are primary, meaning no dangerous cause is found. Others can reflect bleeding, a blood-vessel problem, infection, or another condition, particularly when the pain is abrupt, unusually severe, or different from previous headaches.

Heat, dehydration, poor sleep, an illness such as a common cold or COVID-19, and straining with blocked sinuses may add to discomfort. Headache linked with heat exhaustion or dehydration needs attention to the wider symptoms, not only the pain.

Stop the activity, move to a cool quiet place, and drink fluids if you can swallow normally. Resume exercise only after symptoms have settled and a clinician has considered a new or severe pattern. Warm up gradually, avoid sudden maximal effort, and record the activity, onset, pain quality, and accompanying symptoms. Do not use repeated pain medicine to keep exercising through unexplained headaches.

Call emergency services for a thunderclap headache, collapse, confusion, seizure, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, vision loss, stiff neck, or repeated vomiting. Seek urgent assessment for fever with severe headache, headache after injury, or pain that peaks immediately with exertion. Arrange a medical review for a first exertion headache, recurring episodes, or a changing pattern, even if it later improves.

Ask whether your symptoms need examination or urgent testing, which activities to pause, and how to return to exercise. Mention medicines, recent infection, heat exposure, hydration, blood pressure, and any neurological symptoms.