Diagnosis
Your doctor will probably suggest an imaging test, particularly if:
- Your age is more than 40 years old.
- Your headaches last for several hours or longer.
- You also exhibit additional symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, or eyesight issues.
- Your headaches come on hard and fast, like a thunderclap.
In these circumstances, various imaging studies can assist your healthcare professional in confirming that you have the benign variety of exercise headache as opposed to the sort brought on by a structural or vascular irregularity.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This examination produces cross-sectional pictures of the brain’s structural components using a magnetic field and radio waves.
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and Computerized Tomography (CT) angiography. These examinations provide visual representations of the blood vessels that extend to and are located within the brain.
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan. An image of the brain’s cross-section is produced by a CT scan using X-rays. If your headache started less than 48 hours ago, this test may reveal recent or fresh bleeding into or around the brain.
Occasionally, a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is also required, particularly if the headache developed suddenly and lately and brain imaging is unremarkable.
Treatment
Your doctor may suggest taking certain medications on a regular basis to assist prevent headaches if there are no underlying structural or vascular issues causing your exercise headaches.
- Indomethacin, a medication to treat inflammation.
- Propranolol, a medication to control blood pressure.
There have been reports of other treatments, such as naproxen, phenelzine, and dihydroergotamine mesylate, being successful in certain patients.
You might be able to take a drug an hour or two prior to a planned activity, such as a tennis match or a walk at a high altitude, if your exercise headaches are predictable. You might need to take the preventive medication daily if your post-exercise headaches are frequent or unexpected.