Headaches when working out. What could be wrong

[phishers]

Whenever im pushing myself during working out, whether its a set of push ups or lifting weights at the end of the set when im really pushing like when my face will get red, i will get a pretty bad headache pretty much forcing me to discontinue the workout.  Just has started happening the last week, but it always seems to happen. Do I have a brain tumor or something, whats wrong? =(  

Thanks
Zach

[saul8732]

My name is Saul Im 18 years old, 5'8 165. Few months ago i was at my best benching 240 and squatting about 350. I had absolutely no headaches. Stopped working out over the summer and have recently starting working out again. I got my first headache doing a set of curls with the straight bar. It wasnt terribly painful and I thought it would go away which for a while it did. Today I was doing dumbell shoulder presses and on my first set it hit me like a ton of bricks. I have had bad migranes before and I can assure you this was by far a lot more painful. Started at the neck and made its way to the back of my head. I thought id tough it out and finish the set. By the time I was done I had a throbbing headache and could hardly breathe from the pain. Im eating healthier than ever before and I have good form in my workouts so I am perplexed as how this could have come about. Im not even lifting as much as I used to.

[GusLondon]

I had this last night Oct 4th 2011. Had done some heavy lifting bicep curls 1 second up 4 seconds down to maximise time under tension. Then moved onto squats, which is when the headaches started. Using the 1 over 4 technique again. I've always hated squats but now they've spooked me. Am taking couple of days off and if head feels better will try again. Maybe leaving squats until next week. Thought I'd caused an aneurysm. I'd be happier leaving squats out of my regime altogether and just use the walking lunge with dumbells. But my PT tells me Squats and Deadlifts are the best exercises in the gym.

[mangosalsa]

i get this... i've experienced it for close to 10 years already (33 yrs old now) and it pretty much stops me from making great progress because i would have to stop heavy lifting for a period of time.  Anyway, about 5 yrs ago, it got so frequent, even non-exercise things, like taking a poop would give me the headache... so i got a CAT scan... they found nothing.  I found that warming up with running... like a really good run, not just jogging, helped most times, but not always.  i have also recently discovered that its worse if i'm not concentrating on form, and letting my chin go down towards my chest and pulling my shoulder blades together.  Anyway, that's the extent of my experience... I may go see a chiropractor at some point.  good luck all!

[ajay3]

at first i thought i had a problem with my back so i went to my doctore n he ordered an mri and an xray, well nothing was wrong, everything was normal. but as more time goes on i am starting to have crucial neck and shoulder pain anytime i do jus bout anythig. i would describe my pain as strainous in about anything i do.. tlkin on the phone even feels like its straining. i usto work out alot and now the pain is to severe to work out. all i want to do is get back to working out. im only 19! any help??

[JoeWil]

See dtrok78's post from 3-17-11. This is the best advise I have seen. I googled Primary Exertional Headache and got good information. I got this headache for the first time ever yesterday during 25th rep of pushups. I had already completed squats and deadlifts and had moved on to pull-ups/push-ups superset when it hit. I went to my chiropractor last night. This morning while having sex with my wife, I got the dam headache again. I have been lifting steadily over the last year and a half and in excellent health, low blood pressure, etc. I will take a break for a week and try sprints, then gradually go back to weights.

Thanks to dtrok78 for a good post and good luck to the rest of you.

[presson]

more information: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sex-headaches/DS00645/DSECTION=causes