Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSinusitisSwimmer’s EarTension HeadacheMigraineCompression HeadacheSupraorbital NeuralgiaPrimary Exercise Headache
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sinusitis
Swimmer’s Ear
Tension Headache
Migraine
Compression Headache
Supraorbital Neuralgia
Primary Exercise Headache
Swimming-related headaches have a few different causes with similar symptoms. One common cause is swimmer’s ear, which can lead to headaches due to a bacterial infection that follows from water entering the ear canal.
Other causes include pressure from wearing goggles, irritation to chemicals, changes in pressure from diving, dehydration, or simply exercise itself.
Here’s a closer look at different types of headaches related to swimming, how they differ from each other, and what can take away the pain.
Thomas Barwick / Getty Images
A common after-swim headache, sinus headaches are due to clogged sinus cavities, which can lead to infection and pain.
Bacteria and viruses can enter the nasal cavity during swimming, causing a sinus infection. If you have sinus pain that does not resolve with over the counter medication, see your healthcare provider.
Over the counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen), or Excedrin, or nasal sprays such as Afrin, can help relieve the pain. In the case of an infection, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe antibiotics.
What Are Sinus Headaches?
Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear, is a bacterial ear infection of the outer ear canal.It occurs when water gets trapped in the ear. Symptoms include:
Over the counter pain medications, like Tylenol or Advil, can help to relieve the pain, but in the case of an infection, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe antibiotic ear drops.
Using earplugs made for swimming can help you to prevent swimmer’s ear.
Steps to Heal Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)
Tension headaches are typically a dull, aching pain and may include tightness or pressure across the forehead, sides or back of your head. Some people experience tenderness on the scalp, neck, and shoulders as well.
This type of headache typically responds well to over the counter pain medication, such as Tylenol or Excedrin.
Be sure to hydrate, eat nutritiously, take breaks from the sun, and consider wearing sunglasses when floating in the pool.
Tension Headaches: Triggers and Treatment
Swimming can sometimes trigger a migraine. Swim-related migraines may begin as tension headaches, but take the pain to a greater level, with throbbing or pulsing.
Migraines can resolve with Excedrin, though sometimes prescription medication is needed.
Migraines
According to the International Headache Society, this type of headache is constant, does not throb, and typically resolves after the pressure is alleviated.
Medication is not typically needed for this type of headache. However, if the pressure continues for a prolonged period, it may turn into a migraine.
External Compression Headache: Overview and More
Another unusual type of headache,supraorbital neuralgiais a constant or spasmic pain inthe supraorbital nervein the forehead. Some people also experience numbness or tingling in the forehead as well with this type of headache.
Goggles are the usual culprit of supraorbital neuralgia after swimming and people with certain facial anatomy—a supraorbital notch in the facial structure—are more prone to this rare type of headache.
Supraorbital neuralgia pain is treated with ananesthetic nerve blockadeor nerve ablation.
If you suspect this type of headache, put goggles on gently, rotate different placement to avoid repeated pressure on the same spots, and try different goggles—ones with soft rubber and a smaller area of the seal around the eyes can reduce pressure.
Strenuous swimming can cause primaryexercise headaches, an exertional headache that throbs, lasts for less than 48 hours, and occurs during or after vigorous physical activity.
In some cases, these episodes signal a previously undiagnosed underlying medical condition.
These headaches are typically treated with Tivorbex (indomethacin), a type ofnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, or NSAID.
8 Essential Pool Exercises to Minimize Stress on Your Joints
Summary
Swim-related headaches are not uncommon and can occur for a variety of reasons. Sinusitis is sometimes associated with the water exposure from swimming. So is swimmer’s ear, which also may lead to headaches.
If you experience a headache after swimming, speak to your healthcare provider. It’s important to ensure you have a proper diagnosis and begin any necessary treatment.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jahani P, Salesi M, Marzban M, Abdollahifard G.The Prevalence of Headache Among Athletic University Students.Asian J Sports Med. 2016 Mar 1;7(1):e33515. doi:10.5812/asjsm.33515.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Battisti AS, Lofgren D, Lark JD.Barosinusitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis Externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Wade TJ, Sams EA, Beach MJ, Collier SA, Dufour AP. The incidence and health burden of earaches attributable to recreational swimming in natural waters: a prospective cohort study.Environ Health. 2013;12:67. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-67Shah N, Hameed S.Muscle Contraction Tension Headache. 2022 Oct 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115–123. doi:10.1177/20406223155796274.6 External-pressure headache - ICHD-3. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. ICHD.Ren H, Shen Y, Luo F.Treatment of Supraorbital Neuralgia Using Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Supraorbital Nerve: A Retrospective Study.J Pain Res. 2020 Jan 29;13:251-259. doi:10.2147/JPR.S228720.Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural Ablation and Regeneration in Pain Practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3–11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary Exercise Headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020 Apr 15;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4.Indomethacin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.Additional ReadingHeadache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition (beta version).Cephalalgia2013;33(9):629-808. doi: 10.1177/0333102413485658.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jahani P, Salesi M, Marzban M, Abdollahifard G.The Prevalence of Headache Among Athletic University Students.Asian J Sports Med. 2016 Mar 1;7(1):e33515. doi:10.5812/asjsm.33515.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Battisti AS, Lofgren D, Lark JD.Barosinusitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis Externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Wade TJ, Sams EA, Beach MJ, Collier SA, Dufour AP. The incidence and health burden of earaches attributable to recreational swimming in natural waters: a prospective cohort study.Environ Health. 2013;12:67. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-67Shah N, Hameed S.Muscle Contraction Tension Headache. 2022 Oct 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115–123. doi:10.1177/20406223155796274.6 External-pressure headache - ICHD-3. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. ICHD.Ren H, Shen Y, Luo F.Treatment of Supraorbital Neuralgia Using Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Supraorbital Nerve: A Retrospective Study.J Pain Res. 2020 Jan 29;13:251-259. doi:10.2147/JPR.S228720.Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural Ablation and Regeneration in Pain Practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3–11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary Exercise Headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020 Apr 15;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4.Indomethacin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.Additional ReadingHeadache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition (beta version).Cephalalgia2013;33(9):629-808. doi: 10.1177/0333102413485658.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jahani P, Salesi M, Marzban M, Abdollahifard G.The Prevalence of Headache Among Athletic University Students.Asian J Sports Med. 2016 Mar 1;7(1):e33515. doi:10.5812/asjsm.33515.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.Battisti AS, Lofgren D, Lark JD.Barosinusitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis Externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Wade TJ, Sams EA, Beach MJ, Collier SA, Dufour AP. The incidence and health burden of earaches attributable to recreational swimming in natural waters: a prospective cohort study.Environ Health. 2013;12:67. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-67Shah N, Hameed S.Muscle Contraction Tension Headache. 2022 Oct 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115–123. doi:10.1177/20406223155796274.6 External-pressure headache - ICHD-3. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. ICHD.Ren H, Shen Y, Luo F.Treatment of Supraorbital Neuralgia Using Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Supraorbital Nerve: A Retrospective Study.J Pain Res. 2020 Jan 29;13:251-259. doi:10.2147/JPR.S228720.Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural Ablation and Regeneration in Pain Practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3–11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary Exercise Headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020 Apr 15;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4.Indomethacin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.
Jahani P, Salesi M, Marzban M, Abdollahifard G.The Prevalence of Headache Among Athletic University Students.Asian J Sports Med. 2016 Mar 1;7(1):e33515. doi:10.5812/asjsm.33515.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Sinusitis.
Battisti AS, Lofgren D, Lark JD.Barosinusitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis Externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224
Wade TJ, Sams EA, Beach MJ, Collier SA, Dufour AP. The incidence and health burden of earaches attributable to recreational swimming in natural waters: a prospective cohort study.Environ Health. 2013;12:67. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-67
Shah N, Hameed S.Muscle Contraction Tension Headache. 2022 Oct 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(3):115–123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
4.6 External-pressure headache - ICHD-3. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. ICHD.
Ren H, Shen Y, Luo F.Treatment of Supraorbital Neuralgia Using Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Supraorbital Nerve: A Retrospective Study.J Pain Res. 2020 Jan 29;13:251-259. doi:10.2147/JPR.S228720.
Choi EJ, Choi YM, Jang EJ, Kim JY, Kim TK, Kim KH.Neural Ablation and Regeneration in Pain Practice.Korean J Pain. 2016;29(1):3–11. doi:10.3344/kjp.2016.29.1.3
Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary Exercise Headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020 Apr 15;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4.
Indomethacin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition (beta version).Cephalalgia2013;33(9):629-808. doi: 10.1177/0333102413485658.
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