Severe Throbbing Headaches Triggered by Exercise
I’m a 16-year-old individual standing at 5’9" and weighing 150 lbs, and as far as I know, I have no significant health problems, although I do smoke. Recently, I experienced something alarming during my running routine. I really pushed myself during a sprint, and suddenly, I was overwhelmed by an intense headache that felt like my head was about to burst. This was an excruciating throbbing pain that persisted throughout the night. Now, I find that every time my heart rate elevates, whether from physical activity or even the excitement of playing video games, I sometimes experience similar, albeit milder, headaches. However, it seems predominantly tied to exercising, where I am struck by a persistent throbbing headache that can last for around thirty minutes after it begins. I’m curious about what might be causing this. I ensure that I stay well-hydrated and haven’t made any recent changes to my diet or overall health. At the moment, I’ve been relying on Tylenol for relief, as I’m hesitant to take blood thinners like ibuprofen—worried about the possibility of a bleeding issue, even though I doubt that’s the case. I believe if it were something as severe as a brain bleed, the pain would likely be significantly worse and would not let up. Still, these headaches consistently emerge only when I engage in exercise before gradually fading.
Answers (1)
9/6/2025, 10:20:42 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing severe throbbing headaches during and after intense exercise, which can be unsettling. Let’s break this down a bit and consider potential causes as well as what you can do.
Main Points:
- Your headaches may be exercise-related, potentially linked to exertion headaches.
- Staying hydrated is good; however, other factors may be contributing.
- Monitor your symptoms and adjust your exercise approach for relief.
Explanation:
The severe throbbing headache you experienced during a sprint could be what is known as a primary exertional headache. These headaches are often triggered by intense physical activity and can last from a few minutes to several hours. Symptoms typically include sharp pain and a throbbing or pulsating sensation in the head, and they may resolve on their own.
Since you also mention experiencing milder headaches during activities that increase your heart rate (like gaming), this may suggest that your body is sensitive to rapid changes in blood flow or exertion levels. The smoking habit may also play a role, as it can constrict blood vessels and contribute to headache triggers.
Next Steps:
-
Modify Your Exercise: Start by adjusting your workout intensity. Gradually build up your cardiovascular activity without immediately pushing to high exertion (like sprinting). Incorporate more moderate-paced activities to see if that reduces headache frequency.
-
Hydration and Nutrition: Continue to stay well-hydrated, but monitor your overall diet as well. Ensure you're getting enough electrolytes—consider sports drinks that replenish salts lost during exercise, especially if sweating profusely.
-
Coffee or Caffeine: Sometimes, caffeine can help reduce headache frequency for those susceptible to exertional headaches. If you’re not overly sensitive, consider having a small amount before exercise, but be cautious with timing and total intake.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a diary of your headaches, including when they occur, intensity, duration, and any other relevant details (e.g., what you ate, how long you exercised). This can help identify triggers and patterns.
-
Pain Management: Although you’re currently using Tylenol, if headaches persist, you might consider consulting a healthcare professional about other options for relief. If you remain concerned about using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, discuss this with a provider who can help clarify any risks.
If your headaches worsen, change in nature, or if you experience additional concerning symptoms (like visual disturbances, nausea, or severe dizziness), it’s important to seek medical advice swiftly.
Take care of yourself! You're making good efforts to understand and manage your health, and adjusting your exercise routine could lead to significant improvements. Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification!
Related Questions
Assessing My Health Concerns: How Anxious Should I Be?
I’m a 32-year-old woman, weighing 124 pounds and standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall. For over a year, I have been experiencing bright red rectal bleeding. Initially, I attributed this issue to hemorrhoids that developed during my pregnancy two years ago. The bleeding occurs with most of my bowel movements, sometimes happens without one, and on a few occasions, has been enough to stain the toilet bowl significantly. The color of the blood is typically darker than what I observe during a hemorrhoid flare-up. There is a notable family history of bowel cancer on both sides; one family member was diagnosed at age 45, and another at 60. In the past six months, I have encountered several episodes of severe abdominal pain—3 to 4 instances—intense enough to consider a trip to the emergency room. However, the pain usually subsides within about an hour. It’s unusual for me to experience such acute pain, given my high tolerance for discomfort; for example, I once played rugby shortly after dislocating and fracturing my finger. Recently, I mustered the courage to consult with my doctor, who recommended a FIT test, which returned a positive result (30.1). Additionally, I underwent a complete blood test, and aside from having low ferritin levels (7 µg/L), all other results were normal. I have since been referred for a colonoscopy on a two-week waiting list to rule out any possible bowel cancer. Given these circumstances, how concerned should I be? Thank you for your input.
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Concerns About My Toes
Age: 30, Female Currently, I am on the lookout for a reputable podiatrist in my vicinity. However, I've encountered a perplexing issue with my foot. Just last night, I noticed a growth on the side of my toe, something entirely new to me. I maintain a nutritious diet and have a demanding job that requires me to be on my feet quite often. My footwear includes brands such as Brooks Ghost Runners, Hoka Bondi 9’s, and Nike Motiva’s, and I don’t opt for restrictive socks. I also apply Vick’s Vaporub to my feet, a practice handed down from my family, and stick with simple, non-fragrant lotions like Vanicream and CeraVe SA Cream for my skin. In addition, I am curious about the my big toenail's change in color. What might be the underlying reasons for this? Also, I have these persistent dark spots on my toes that I've struggled with since my days on the runway. Despite my efforts, nothing has succeeded in lightening or diminishing their appearance. I'm just looking to determine if there might have been a factor from the past that could have contributed to these issues. I’m not sure what else to include, but I’m open to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your attention! Best wishes from a worried soul!