Exercise Headaches Aren’t Dangerous but Can Be Caused by Underlying Health Conditions, GP Warns

Exercise headaches could be the body's normal response to letting you know that you have already overexerted your workout routine. However, according to an expert, one should also be cautious as it can be due to underlying health conditions.

Exercise Headaches Explained

Bhavini Shah, a LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor general practitioner, explained that exercise or exertion headaches are rare and can affect anybody. She added that any overexertion might result in this type of headache, which can appear suddenly during any physical activity that raises your heart rate.

Shah stated that although the precise origin of this type of headache is unknown, it is most likely connected to the increased blood demand that physical exercise places on our bodies. According to the general practitioner, some studies indicate that it may be related to dilating blood vessels inside the skull during an intense exercise.

Although headaches from exertion can happen throughout any activity, Shah stated that they usually occur when one is running in hot weather, doing heavy lifting or high-intensity strength training, intense swimming sessions in cold water, strenuous effort during rowing, racket sports like tennis, long-distance cycling, and uphill biking.

Any exercise or overexertion might result in exertion headaches.

"Most of the time, exertion headaches aren't dangerous," Shah said. "They're more of a nuisance and usually resolve on their own, or by changing the way you exercise or go about your daily life. However, it is important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms."

An underlying medical condition, such as a problem with the blood arteries in your brain, may cause some headaches. Shah warned that these are secondary headaches and may be dangerous for your health. If your headaches are becoming more frequent, intense, or unpredictable, it may indicate that you have an underlying medical condition that requires attention. Shah recommended seeing your doctor to rule out a more severe condition.

To avoid exertion headaches, she suggested doing warm-ups properly, staying hydrated, gradually increasing the intensity of exercise, cooling down, monitoring the outdoor weather, and engaging in regular exercise.

Exercise Pill Possible

Another study suggested that working out might not be necessary in the future, as a pill can deliver the same results. Yes, one might not need to sweat anymore to enjoy the benefits of exercise.

Exercise activates specific proteins called estrogen-related receptors (ERRs). ERRα, ERRβ, and ERRγ are the three different types of ERRs. Bahaa Elgendy, the study's author and an anesthesiology professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and others have created a substance known as SLU-PP-332, which they advise to be taken as a tablet. This material mimics the effects of exercise on these proteins by activating all three kinds of ERR.

ERRα is the most crucial protein to activate since it regulates essential physiological functions, such as how muscles respond to stress during exercise. Elgy said that the pill will be helpful to those who cannot exercise, probably due to lack of time or certain diseases, because it mimics or enhances the effects of exercise.

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