Headaches during benchpress and deadlift

[DerickVonD]

I've been getting headaches during deadlifts and bench presses. I know I don't have too much weight. On the deadlift I'm not 100% I have the technique right, but on the benchpress I do. I bring the weight to my chest then bring it back up. I don't have headaches during any other exercise, however the benchpress and the deadlift are the two exercises that are the toughest. I was wondering if I wasn't breathing enough(it's not like I hold my breath or anything though) and if anyone had any breathing tips or techniques.

[cmc]

So are you saying that you are getting an exertion head ache? Are the head aches very short lived?

[DerickVonD]

So are you saying that you are getting an exertion head ache? Are the head aches very short lived?

Well I don't know for sure, but I think I am. They are short lived and go away after the exercise, usually. Sometimes they last the whole night, but the severity of them goes down greatly about 10 minutes after the exercise.

[demetre]

are you squeezing your teeth together to hard?

[DerickVonD]

are you squeezing your teeth together to hard?

no. on the bench I'll usually breath in wile lowering the weight and breath out while pushing the weight up and I count out loud.

[demetre]

is there any other times in your life this has happened?? for example i used to get headaches when i got angry.

[DerickVonD]

is there any other times in your life this has happened?? for example i used to get headaches when i got angry.

Yeah, sometimes I get them when I am pissed off.

[demetre]

and suddenly there it is.....i had the same problem so your in essence getting angry at the weight to push it

[DerickVonD]

and suddenly there it is.....i had the same problem so your in essence getting angry at the weight to push it

Well I'm getting angry at other things (arguing with grandmom) then trying to bench press. Also I think it still happens even when I'm not really angry. Do you know what physically causes these headaches?

[demetre]

i believe when we get angry for some reason our muscles in our head put pressure on our brain causing the pain. chemically something could happen i dont know.

[BUCKNUTS]

Sounds like an exertion headache caused by? vaso-dialation? changes in blood sugar? if it's bad enough you should talk to your Dr about it to rule out any underlying physical cause.

[warsteiner]

Are you holding your breath when doing the exercises? Have a search on Google for 'valsalva maneuver' as it may be that you are subconsciously holding your breath. This happens for me when doing Bench presses some times especially when go for PRs.

[DerickVonD]

Are you holding your breath when doing the exercises? Have a search on Google for 'valsalva maneuver' as it may be that you are subconsciously holding your breath. This happens for me when doing Bench presses some times especially when go for PRs.

I did search it, but I can't find a very detailed site about it. I am breathing yet still getting headaches, they are probably stress headaches. I can not be unstressed I argue with my grandmom everyday, so everyday I workout I am stressed.

[cmc]

It is very hard to state the cause of a head ache. Even doctors have a hard time doing so. I'm leaning towards it being some form of an exertion headache which usually comes on during activities as such or comes on when coughing, taking a dump, sometimes sneezing, etc. As a side note, make sure that you are staying well hydrated by drinking enough water as most people are dehydrated. Just being an thlete and working out in the gym, your water intake should be very high. If you dont have a good source of "clean" water, buy distilled water ....believe it or not, distilled water is much better than all tap waters and a lot of bottled waters combined.

[suncloud]

It is very hard to state the cause of a head ache. Even doctors have a hard time doing so. I'm leaning towards it being some form of an exertion headache

i think you're right. another possibility is its a stress/tension headache. if you're not sleeping well, that's the first area i would tackle. then you need to find out something you like doing, and do it. it could be writing, or reading, or whatever - just find it and do it - you'd be amazed at how stress wreaks havoc on your system.

[DerickVonD]

i think you're right. another possibility is its a stress/tension headache. if you're not sleeping well, that's the first area i would tackle. then you need to find out something you like doing, and do it. it could be writing, or reading, or whatever - just find it and do it - you'd be amazed at how stress wreaks havoc on your system.

Oh, I know. I've passed out before.

[j3ffbeck]

Heavy lifting will cause a temporary spike in blood pressure during the exertion, so that could have something to do with it. Combine that with stress in other aspects of life and I think it could become more dramatic. Either way it seems like your body is trying to tell you something and you should probably take BUCKNUTS advice and talk to a doctor just to be safe. You don't want to stroke-out in the middle of benching one day a couple years down the road.

[DerickVonD]

Heavy lifting will cause a temporary spike in blood pressure during the exertion, so that could have something to do with it. Combine that with stress in other aspects of life and I think it could become more dramatic. Either way it seems like your body is trying to tell you something and you should probably take BUCKNUTS advice and talk to a doctor just to be safe. You don't want to stroke-out in the middle of benching one day a couple years down the road.

Well a couple years down the road, hopeflly I'll be living somewhere else where I'm not stressed all the time.

[TravisG]

also try taking in some protein and carbs before you go lift. if you have and empty stomach when you go lift youll get a headache from low blood sugar while youre lifting.

another thing is to breath while youre lifting. exhale at the bottom inhale at the top.

also be sure youre drinking enough water. dehydration headaches come common with lifters in the summer. and anyone for that matter. try to drink a gallon a day. scratch that. DRINK A GALLON A DAY.

hope this can fix the problem

[DerickVonD]

also try taking in some protein and carbs before you go lift. if you have and empty stomach when you go lift youll get a headache from low blood sugar while youre lifting.

another thing is to breath while youre lifting. exhale at the bottom inhale at the top.

also be sure youre drinking enough water. dehydration headaches come common with lifters in the summer. and anyone for that matter. try to drink a gallon a day. scratch that. DRINK A GALLON A DAY.

hope this can fix the problem

Well I do drink atleast a gallon a day, not all at once of course. I always have water near by when I workout. There might be something to the low blood sugar thing though. Usually I'll workout about an hour to two hours after I eat. Sometimes though I'll workout before dinner and then eat a ****load.