You're here: Home » Articles » Women's Health » Why do I get headaches when I exercise?

Why do I get headaches when I exercise?

Some reasons why women get headaches when they exercise -

Mary from Australia asked - “Why do I always get headaches when I exercise at the gym? It is very annoying and sometimes they get so bad I have to stop.”

I bet it is annoying Mary! I’ll talk about a few possibilities.

Why women might get headaches when they exercise

Here are some reasons why women might get headaches when they exercise as well as some other important suggestions.

1. You must see a doctor
The first thing that has to be said about this point is that you need to see your doctor. If you have consistent headaches that do not seem to be getting any better it is vital you get a check up and some tests because it could be an indication of something more serious.

On the other hand, a blood test takes five minutes and from that your doctor could tell you it is something quite simple and easy to fix. This has happened to me more than once. I thought it was something serious and it turned out to be nothing and easily solved. This can save you hours of headache pain and make your exercise time fun again.

Don’t put it off! Women love to put off the doctor.

2. Dehydration
One of the most common reasons people get headaches at the gym is because they are not keeping their fluids up. One of the first symptoms that you are dehydrated is a headache so as soon as you feel the pain you should jump off the treadmill and go and have a drink.

What people don’t realize about dehydration is that the symptoms only show up once you are already dehydrated. It is not like they are telling you it is about to happen - you are already there. This means you need to treat it right away.

3. Bad posture/technique
When I was first starting out at kung fu I got very bad headaches because my technique was very poor. I was putting too much energy into certain moves and as such I put unnecessary strain on my neck. Hurting your neck is one of the best ways to get a headache when you are working out.

If you suspect it might be your technique then stop the exercise that makes the headache worse and avoid it for a few sessions. See if the headaches come back and if they don’t you know it was that exercise.

4. High heels
I was talking to a friend of mine recently (sorry I can’t remember who!) and they were telling me that their doctor had mentioned that walking around in high heels all day and then changing to sneakers and going for a run can be an indirect cause of headaches if the heels have put your back out of whack.

Many women do not realize that, while heels look great, they can have a negative impact on your back, ankles and hips. They should not be worn for too long at a time.

5. The iPod
Another thing I have found is that people forget that loud music can give you a headache. They are on the treadmill running a hundred miles an hour and the music is keeping them going so they turn it up and up and up. This is a sure-fire way to give yourself a headache.

6. Blood sugar
Low blood sugar happens to all of us when we exercise but it can be a bigger problem for some people. Many diabetics get headaches when their blood sugar gets too low and it is another reason to see your doctor to make sure it isn’t going to be more of a problem than it needs to be.

For the rest of us, make sure you eat something half an hour before you go to the gym to do an intense workout. Just last week I was doing my leg workout with a friend and had a terrible headache. I was trying to figure out why I had it and I realized I had overslept and in my hurry to get to the gym to meet my friend I had skipped breakfast. That means I was working out without eating for over 8 hours!

7. Blood flow
Some exercises can cause the blood to flow to places too quickly or not fast enough. If you are getting headaches it might be that you are bent over too much and the blood is all rushing to your head.

Conclusion
There are many possibilites but 9 times out of 10 the problem can be solved by a quick visit to your doctor. This not only might help to cure the headache, it can also relieve a lot of stress and worry that you might have.

Any one here (other than Mary!) get headaches?

Got any questions? We'll answer them on our forum!

Comments on this article:

Add Your Comments Here: