Headache, Exercise-Induced

Exercise-induced (exertional) headaches—the kind a person gets as a result of physical exertion—affect between 1% and 40% of athletes and exercisers at least once in their lives. Runners, swimmers, divers, rowers, cyclists, aerobic exercisers, and weight lifters are in the high-risk group, and men in their 20s are the gender and age-group most often affected. The headaches can go away in as little as 5 minutes or can last as long as 2 days. At least half of them go away quickly.

Other than causing immediate discomfort, most exercise-induced headaches are ...