Ames

Hard exertion causes an increase in blood pressure and when it starts rising too much a headache can occur. It is normally localized and throbs and subsides in a shorter period than you mention so do not think it is the cause but:

Check with a qualified physician or other qualified source as it is too serious for this forum to answer.

JMRobertson

I sometimes find myself really tense in the shoulders and neck when I'm biking for no readily apparent reason. This can cause headaches and sore back, and all I have to do to stop it is to realize I'm tensing up and simply relax.

merlinextraligh

Exertional headaches after a very hard workout aren't that uncommon. https://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_...hessport.shtml

It happens to me occassionally, particularly if it's hot, and I've pushed right to the limit.

If you're otherwise in good health, and you're only getting the headaches after really hard workouts, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

If the headaches are causing you a lot of pain, or limiting your ability to function, then go see a doctor.

mr handy

I hate to sound like a broken record, but...
If this is something that has come up as the weather has cooled off then dehydration is a likely cause. Athletes loose as much fluid during activity in the cold-cool as they do in moderate to warm weather (the exception being possibly hot/very hot weather, though heat related problems tend to be a bigger problem)
Because its cool, people tend to forget to drink and become dehydrated. ( I would like to credit my sports medicine and coaching classes for this information)

It could be a sugar thing, I know that I need to bring something to eat (or a gel) on ride over 20 miles and a coke when I get back from a hard ride really helps to ward of headachs, settle the stomach, and give me a boost.


Edit* Dehydration story.
A week ago on Friday I didn't drink anything but a cup of coffee and a coke, than Saturday I went to Orlando and stood around all day in the sun (85/90 degrees) watching paintball (World Cup) with nothing to drink, than went to Hooters and had a couple beers. By the time 10 clock rolled around I thought I was going to die. So I forced down a glass of water and slept for 10 hours. Next day I was able to function, and continued to push water. I felt better by Monday.

NuBiker

I am not going to argue with you the patho-physiology of a partially blocked cerebral artery, which is way different from a stroke.
I am just saying that other possibilities are possible and shouldn't be overlooked as consequences can be severe.
Most probably it is dehydration, due to increased blood pressure and other factors.
Don't take the advices over an internet seriously, go to a qualified physician to rule out any problem, just in case...

DScott

Could be muscle tension, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, exercise-induced migraine, vascular, impending implosive concateny, or any number of other causes... might be good to consult with a medical professional or two in Real Life (tm). That's an especially good idea if you're just starting to exercise more intensely.

Treefox

Well part of the problem may very well be that I'm exercising at similar intensity, but less often than I used to.

(my legs certainly feel that, though in a good way, unlike my poor poor 'ed)

Bladecatcher

I have this problem from time to time, and one thing that I have finally figured out is that I seriously grit my teeth when I'm tired or hurting. Once I force myself to relax my jaw (and consciously remove my tongue from the roof of my mouth -- go ahead try it), my neck relaxes a little bit and the headaches are much less frequent.

Of course, I'm not a doctor...

enjoi

i used to get headaches as you described, i switched from pure water to poweraid/gatorade/HEED, it helped. I went to a doctor and they couldnt find anything major. It eventually went away.

grahny

+1... it could be anything from a sinus infection to not enough fluids to a tumor to your imagination - don't mess with it. Go to a doctor. Hopefully it'll turn out your helmet is just on too tight

DannoXYZ 

Easy way to test whether you've drank enough water is to weigh yourself before and after the ride. Your weight should be roughly the same within 1/2 lb. Also you'll want to adjust your post-ride recovery-drink based upon how much you burned off. Banana's not enough. You want a 4:1 carb-protein drink with at least 200-calories initially. Then follow up with additional drinks every hour depending upon how many miles you rode.

Treefox

Yup. Had a bottle of High5 4:1 and a bottle of Gatorade. Topped up bottles with water part way through.

Had two bananas, Clif bar, and a bowl of cereal.

Don't own a scale. Couldn't remotely guess what I weigh...

Silver Litz

Are you wearing sunglasses? My first thought is dehydration, but this seems to be well covered. I have found that being in bright conditions without sunglasses lead to head aches.

nitropowered

You need to get a scale and start weighing yourself. Have you always had these headaches or have they come on recently?

But really, you can sit here and listen to advice from people you dont know that may or may not have a medical background. If I were you, I would go see a doctor, get a blood panel done and go from there. When your body hurts, it hurts for a reason. Your body is telling you something is wrong, don't ignore it.

2manybikes

Doctor - now. We can't guess what it is.

Treefox

I have to admit I don't even know how to go to a doctor in the US...

Heh.

2manybikes

Where are you?

Neurodoc

HTFU and go see a neurologist.

No one can diagnose you over teh intarwebz.

SunFlower

I used to drink just water for running and cycling. I never got headaches. Then I switched to cytomax and I got headaches. I then switched to Gatorade and I got headaches. I switched back to water and no more headaches.

patentcad

I can guess what it is.

Malignant brain tumor. Terminal.

But that could be a bad guess. Now maybe you'll see the doctor.

patentcad

By the way, thanks a lot, I dreamed last night I was having brain surgery, and right before they cut me, I asked to go to the bathroom. That made me wake up in real life to take a whiz @ 4AM, and now I can't get back to sleep.

I hope you're happy now.

EGreen

You wish to place your health and well-being in the hands of BF- particularly the Road forum who are going to argue this like DA vs. Campy?

Btw, the absolutely dumbest thing to do is take K supplements if there is no verified medical reason to. Why? Among other things, cardiac standstill!

2manybikes

excellent !

SPlKE 

Calm down.

You're obviously over-hydrated.

Stop drinking liquids and eating watery foods. Check back with me on this thread in a few days if you still have the problem.



.

aicabsolut

For me, a headache after a ride is more common if I haven't eaten enough during or soon enough after the ride.

It's possible you are triggering a migraine since the headaches only happen when you do a ride where you go all out (which makes it easy to be low in calories, but you could get a low calorie/low electrolyte headache from other types of rides). To be sure, you'd need to see a neurologist.