What could be causing these headaches?

What is causing my headaches/migraines?

• I keep getting headaches when my heart rate goes up. Exercising mainly. People say its my breathing, but I've never had trouble breathing between reps and I had someone spot my breathing to make sure I'm doing it right, yet, still headaches. I'm hydrated. Eat well. The only thing I can think of that is causing all my headaches is 'high blood pressure'. The headache is in the back of my head. It starts slow, then gets really bad if I don't stop what I'm doing. I've had about 5 headaches in the past 3 days. It all started when I squatted 205 10 reps quick.

• Answer:

  Migraines are terribly painful and often involve other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances or balance problems. They are usually one sided. If you're getting the pain on both the left and right side, then it is much more likely to be a headache. You don't say how old you are or give any other details that would help to give likely causes. The part that worries me is that you're saying this has come on suddenly as the result of exercise. Exercising at the level you describe can have dangerous effects, however fit you are. There could be many reasons that you could have such a headache, the fact that it has kept coming back means that you should have it investigated by a doctor as soon as possible. It's important that you not do any form of exercise, even if it doesn't increase your heart rate (eg weights), until you are told it is safe to do so, by a doctor.