Your teenager should get between 30 and 60 minutes of exercise each day for good health. However, aches and pains related to exercise could discourage her from wanting to exercise. Headaches during and after exercise are not uncommon, but they can cause both pain and frustration. Most of the time, a mild headache is nothing to worry about, but occasionally headaches after a workout could indicate a more serious medical problem.
Exercise Headaches
Most of the time, an exercise-induced headache has no discernible cause. This is called a primary exercise headache, and while it can be painful, it is usually harmless, notes MayoClinic.com. The pain may feel like intense throbbing, and it might last only a few minutes or as long as two days. Secondary exercise headaches are caused by an underlying condition, such as a problem with the heart or arteries, bleeding in the brain or a sinus infection. This type of headache requires medical care. A secondary exercise headache is often more severe than a primary exercise headache, and might also cause vomiting, vision disturbances or a stiff neck.
Dehydration and Heat
If your teen is working out strenuously, particularly during hot weather, her headache may be related to heat exhaustion or dehydration. Besides a headache, dehydration can cause a dry, sticky mouth, thirst and dizziness. If she complains of a headache while exercising, encourage her to stop what she is doing and drink plenty of fluids. In hot weather, a headache, particularly when accompanied by heavy sweating, a rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps and nausea and vomiting, may indicate heat exhaustion. This is a serious condition and requires a prompt medical evaluation.
Other Causes
Migraines affect approximately 20 percent of teenagers, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians. Intense physical activity can bring on a migraine or make one worse. Symptoms include a pounding headache, vision disturbances and nausea or vomiting. Your child's doctor can prescribe medication to help with migraines. In some cases, a headache after exercise may not actually have anything to do with the exercise itself, but might be caused by an illness, such as a cold or the flu. Headaches related to not getting enough sleep, skipping meals or drinking too many caffeine-containing beverages may also start during or after a workout, but are not caused by the workout.
Treatment
If your teen complains that she is experiencing a very painful or severe headache after exercising, take her to the doctor to rule out a serious condition. You can safely treat a mild or moderate headache at home. Encourage her to lie down in a dark room and, if it helps, put a damp washcloth on her forehead. Make sure she has a glass of water in case she is dehydrated. If that does not work, offer her acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Teenagers cannot take aspirin, because it could lead to Reye's syndrome, which can be fatal. If she has headaches after every workout, or more often than twice per week, take her to the doctor for an evaluation.
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