Exertion headaches

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

I’ve been lifting for a couple years, the last 9 months exclusively on BBM templates (which I love BTW) and both times so far this week I’ve had heavier compound movements (SSB x 10 @ 8, RDL x 10 @ 8) I’ve gotten the nastiest headaches that start at the base of my head and emanate from there. Starts about 5-6 reps in and peaks about 10 seconds after I put the bar down. Dulls down for the next set which obviously just aggravates it again–until I move to a less fatiguing exercise.

I’m 44, BP 110/60 get a pretty significant amount of low intensity cardio and no family history of any hearth issues/stroke/etc.

I’ve never had any issues like this in the 2+ years of lifting now, but these headaches are really really intense.

I’d go to the dr but a year ago I wasted about a year of time, a dozen tests and went through a GP and 2 gastroenterologists for mildly elevated AST/ALT in the presense of no other symptoms…I had to fill 9 vials one of those test cycles. It was a waste of time and blood. :stuck_out_tongue:

2

Hi there,

Primary exertion headaches are, by definition, not caused by some other underlying issue - but that isn’t necessarily a diagnosis that can be made based on history alone, and new onset headaches is something that typically gets the attention of a physician.

I would first try a lower-RPE approach to your training (perhaps bumping down the RPE targets by 1 point on movements that seem to set this off), but if they continue or progress, seeing a physician would be reasonable.

3

Thanks Austin, seems like a very reasonable approach.

Lat pull downs even triggered them today, but just a mild discomfort.

I’ll start each workout as normal and if they get triggered significantly, drop RPE a bit and continue. Really looking forward to moving back to STR templates saturday after 6 weeks on hypertrophy.