This may be beyond the scope of this forum, particularly if it requires medical examination, but earlier this week, I was doing some bench and suddenly started experiencing a headache primarily in the frontal lobe. During other training since then, while taking a heavy valsalva, it would start to “flare up” again. If I do just light valsalva (essentially just flexing the abs) it is significantly reduced. But this is a new symptom and has only just started this week. I did have some nausea during the week before my first session where this happened but not in training, so I’m worried this could be a sign that I’m developing migranes? This started on tuesday, and manifested during Thursday and Friday training during my heavier sets. Even today, I went to just do some curls and it flared up a bit.
Is this an experience you’ve seen in other trainees? I’ve been training for a couple years now without this ever having happened.
This is probably not representative of a migraine. New-onset, recurring exertion headaches in an individual who does not have a prior history of benign headaches is worth getting checked out for.
I occasionally have primary exertional headache, which can be extremely painful and is brought on by sudden intense exercise, like lifting. I got an MRI of my head to rule out a tumor, along with other tests. Ultimately no cause was found. The headaches would come and go for a few months at a time and it kept me from lifting for about five years during my twenties. I would get into a routine of training, then I would get the headaches coming back and couldn’t do any weight training. It was extremely challenging to stay healthy during this time period.
One day, while suffering from very difficult headaches and sitting down in the gym locker room a guy asked me what’s wrong. After explaining my headaches, he told me her was medical doctor and suggested warming up, gradually, with cardio before lifting. This solved the headaches for me. If I am not experiencing the headaches, I can warm up for squats by doing squats in a typical warmup set. If I feel the headaches coming on, I need to do 15 minutes on a treadmill or rower, gradually building up intensity to avoid the headaches from coming on.