Aerobic exercise & headaches

[xtknight]

I'm fairly sedentary most of the time, but over the past few days I've decided I'm going to try and stay on an exercise routine. After doing some biking on a stationary bike I get my heart rate up and also acquire some leg burn. However I also get a headache that's very painful in the top-back of my head. It makes exercising rather painful. They say 'no pain no gain' but I don't think this is normal. Any ideas?

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Possibly becuase of less oxygen in your system while exercising. I have asthma and i have to deal with this every time, but I worked through it. So stay on your routine and push yourself, you're just out of shape or not used to the routine. Keep at it and it'll be OK.

 

[Syringer]

That is odd..this happens all the time?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Possibly becuase of less oxygen in your system while exercising. I have asthma and i have to deal with this every time, but I worked through it. So stay on your routine and push yourself, you're just out of shape or not used to the routine. Keep at it and it'll be OK.

I don't believe that I have asthma but I do believe it may have something to do with a lack of blood/oxygen flow. Could it be iron deficiency? I haven't been eating my bran cereal the past few days, but would that really take out all the accumulated iron in your system (just by going on a 'iron fast' for 2 days)?

Originally posted by: Syringer
That is odd..this happens all the time?

Anytime I do anything truly aerobic, yes. But I don't remember getting these headaches when I was younger/thinner and in PE class. I'm 5'10 168 lbs now. And, back then I was 5'8 ~145 lbs. Still, I had trouble running a mile under 9 minutes but I was a lot better than I am now.

I should mention I also had a lot of (caffeinated) coffee today, and I usually have lots of coffee every day. Would that contribute in any way? I could also try warming up slower (I go from doing nothing all day to the bike, maybe it's a shock). My guess is that it's not that however.

 

[magomago]

This used to happen to me when i first start to exercise after a long period of nothing ( i don't drink caffeine though)

Try for maybe a month of not pushing it....let you body adjust to it..you'll still get a worth out for sure. That was how I did it...I was used to nice long runs and didn't do anything for 1.5 years and then one day i just decided to start again and it was just too much. I had to just walk for a week, followed by a month of VERY slow walk/jog and then after that i was fine...

to a degree it happened again earlier this year b/c i was out of the loop for maybe 4 months b/c of classes. I tried to run but that first time killed me, and i did get some of that head ache feeling..more like throbbing in my head. I got out of that by 3 straight weeks of simply walking 4-6 miles a day (I did have a friend to come with me...when they were busy I simply went at night since its cooler then)

and while you can't have to strip out coffee as I think its pointless....too much of anything isn't good

 

[Tommouse]

I used to get exertion migraines, a throbbing near my temple, that would throb with my pulse. So painful, and I didn't know where it was from, so I didn't get to play half of my Senior LaX season. But anyways, finally figured it out after cat scans & MIRs and all kinds of stupid tests. It was my stupid prescription meds!! Not critical meds either, for acne, stupid doctors are pill happy. Anyways I'm getting off topic ...

Are you on any meds? Could be a side affect.
How is your diet? Might want to try a multi-vitamin.
How much water do you drink? Caffeine dehydrates you, so it is really important to drink plenty of water.

I would be leery of any head pain when working out. Be careful, the pain no gain is associated with muscle/lung burn, not head. Just try working up slowly I guess as one of the others mentioned.

BTW 5'10 @ 168lbs isn't fat, I'm 5'10 and 175 with a bit of pudge (couldn't get to the gym last term).

 

[forrestroche]

Exercise has all kinds of side effects that the equiptment manufacturers don't want you to know about...

 

[xtknight]

Thanks guys. I'll keep at it. I don't think I'll be able to exercise as hard as I did today, everyday, but I will still do the same amount, just slower. I did 200 cal in 18 mins today (IIRC), which is quite fast for me considering I just started again.

I don't take meds.
Diet...well, I'm working on it. So far I just take calcium pills as I don't get that much milk.
Water? I don't drink much, I will try drinking more of it.

I don't get throbbing pain unless I really push it or if I'm exhausted to begin with (but no thanks, I'm not going to 'try' that again). Just a dull sort of neck pain, but in the back/top area of your head. I suppose my circulation isn't excellent now but it will improve as I do more and all should be well. I am the anxious type who expects results too soon but I'll keep on.

 

[bignateyk]

Probably exertion headaches. Id see a doctor to make sure, but they are not serious. I had them at one point, but its good to get an MRI done to make sure it isnt something more serious. There are meds you can take to stop them (anti inflamatory's similar to ibuprofen, but stronger) They went away on their own for me, and i havnt had one in probably a year.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

If you have headaches that seem to start at the base of your neck/head, it could be due to the top part of the spine not being aligned or something. The nerves might pinch and cause pain.

I got that after starting to work out my shoulders/neck (basically upper body) after a few months of not working out.

I'm contemplating goign to a chiropractor to get it sorted out, because I can't get proper sleep anymore on hte pillows (i've gone thru a few different types, even the 'wavy' ones).

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: forrestroche
Exercise has all kinds of side effects that the equiptment manufacturers don't want you to know about...

Heh... "conspiracy!!!" Life has all kinds of side effects that THEY don't want you to know about.