Why does my head ache after physical exertion?

Headache with physical exertion is the result of overexertion. People with cardiovascular diseases and elderly people are prone to this phenomenon. In this case, pain in this category causes even a slight physical strain in the form of work at home, walking the stairs. The decrease in resistance to exercise, manifested in pulsation in the region of the crown and temples( see Pulsating headache), is observed in pulmonary diseases. Headache, provoked by physical activity, can disappear after the termination of the load, or after rest from it.

Causes of pain from physical activity

Why does my head ache after physical exertion? With muscle activity, metabolism is accelerated, the body's need for glucose, oxygen and energy is increased. Some diseases, due to which the intensity of metabolism is reduced, or blood circulation and gas exchange are disturbed, lead to oxygen starvation and headaches. If the headache is aggravated during physical exertion, the reasons can be as follows:

1. Vessel and heart diseases: heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis of the aorta, carotid arteries.
2. Diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system: obstructive bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, emphysema. Diseases of the hematopoietic system: anemia.
3. Obesity, endocrine problems.
4. Poor physical fitness.
5. The presence of an acute infectious-inflammatory disease.
6. Osteochondrosis.
7. Diseases of ENT organs: inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.
8. Craniocerebral injury.
9. Inflammation of the brain and its membranes( see Arachnoiditis).

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If the head is hurting from physical exertion, it is possible that a person is not tolerant of oxygen starvation( hypoxia) due to various chronic diseases. Poor resistance to physical activity is a common problem for beginners. The load should be increased gradually. Otherwise, there may be undesirable consequences. Headache after physical exertion, heaviness in the heart and liver area, dyspnea may take unpronounced person by surprise.

Cardiovascular system

Hypoxic state during exercise is due to excess of the need for oxygen in the blood. It is necessary that the red blood cells give oxygen to the cells quickly enough. If the heart can not ensure timely delivery of the biological oxidizer in the right amount, pains appear in different parts of the body: in the muscles, internal organs, head. The role of vessels of different diameters can not be overestimated, since they regulate the flow of oxygen and glucose into the cells of the body. The efficiency of the metabolism of intensively working cells largely depends on their condition.

Tolerance( resistance) to physical activity decreases with hypertension, symptomatic hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis of the carotid and cerebral arteries, vasculitis( lupus) also impair blood circulation and lead to spasm( persistent constriction) or widening of the vessels of the head. This leads to a headache after physical exertion.

Important! Physical activity, even in moderate doses, can provoke a migraine attack in people prone to it.

Diseases of the respiratory system

Chronic lung diseases or acute pneumonia cause a lack of oxygen, leading to vasospasm, including the head. This leads to pain. Pneumosclerosis is characterized by the replacement of functionally active lung tissue with a coarse( scar) connective tissue. Accordingly, the mobility of the lungs decreases, the absorption of oxygen from the atmospheric air, and with it the saturation of the blood.

Saturation - saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen. The blood saturation with chronic obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema decreases. The latter disease is characterized by increased airiness of the lung tissue, but it also worsens the oxygenation of the blood.

Acute pneumonia( pneumonia) is one of the causes of a headache with physical activity. In inflammatory diseases, biologically active substances that cause a vascular response( more often their expansion) are released. This reduces the pressure, which disrupts blood circulation in the brain.

Anemia and endocrine diseases

Anemia is characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells, or a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. This causes a lack of oxygen, to which the brain is sensitive. Diseases associated with hormonal activity can also cause headaches after physical exertion and during them. Especially it concerns hyperthyroidism and diabetes. With hyperthyroidism, the production of thyroxine and triordothyronine increases, which affects the cardiac activity, as a result of which the blood pressure rises and the pulse increases. With physical activity, the metabolism accelerates, the pressure increases, which leads to headaches.

Diabetes mellitus of the first and second types are characterized by increased production of ketone bodies that accumulate in the blood and cause acidosis, negatively affecting small diameter vessels - capillaries. This causes headaches that increase with physical activity. Hyperactivity of the adrenal glands, the secretion of such hormones as aldosterone and cortisol, leads to an increase in pressure, and with it, and the appearance of headaches.

Chronic or acute inflammatory diseases

Acute respiratory diseases in themselves are capable of causing headaches and fever. Together with physical exertion, symptoms can increase. Meningitis, arachnoiditis, encephalitis are acute diseases that can cause headaches both separately and in combination with physical activity. Inflammation of the sinuses in the head during physical activity leads to fluid fluctuations in the cavities and causes pain as a result of irritation of the trigeminal and other sensitive nerves.

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Craniocerebral trauma and osteochondrosis

With a concussion or bruise of the brain, headaches can occur that increase with the tilt of the head and other physical exertion. The defeat of the cervical spine can cause headaches and dizziness. At physical exertion unpleasant sensations can amplify.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the headache does not appear just like that. This symptom can talk about various pathologies, ranging from disruption of the cardiovascular system to brain tumors. When there are headaches with physical exertion and after it, it is necessary to consult a neurologist and establish the exact cause.