Benign Exertional Headache Quiz
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Have a headache
Exercise headaches
I have a headache when I cough
Head pain
I have a headache after working out
Coughing triggers headache
Heavy head
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What is Benign Exertional Headache?
A harmless headache caused by physical exertion like intense exercise, sneezing, or straining during bowel movements. The exact cause is unknown, but it's thought to be related to blood vessel narrowing during physical activity.
Typical Symptoms of Benign Exertional Headache
- Headache
- Pain at the back of the head
- Headache on both sides
- Headache triggered by heavy exercise
- Pain in the temples
- Forehead pain
- Throbbing headache
- Headache that worsens with bright light
Diagnostic Questions for Benign Exertional Headache
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have a headache?
- Do you have pain at the back of your head?
- Do you experience pain on both sides of your head?
- Does heavy exercise trigger your headaches?
- Do you have pain in your temples?
Treatment of Benign Exertional Headache
Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen are typically prescribed for benign exertional headaches. If the headaches are predictable, your doctor may prescribe medication to be taken regularly to prevent them.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Sandoe CH, Kingston W (2018). Exercise Headache: a Review. Current neurology and neuroscience reports.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29675548/Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J (2020). Primary Exercise Headache. Current neurology and neuroscience reports.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32296942/Pascual J, Iglesias F, Oterino A, Vázquez-Barquero A, Berciano J (1996). Cough, exertional, and sexual headaches: an analysis of 72 benign and symptomatic cases. Neurology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8649540/