Headaches after swimming

[hippospot]

This has started in the last couple of months, a pounding headache in the hours after swimming. I haven't changed pool, time of swim, goggles or cap, distance or food/drink before and after. I'm puzzled as to what has happened! No other form of exercise seems to trigger a headache. Can anyone advise please?

Is it a sinus headache? They might be doing something different with the pool chemicals. Chlorine can add to the irritation if you get water up your nose.

If you have another pool nearby, try swimming in that and/or try noseclips.

DD(18) has been a club swimmer and I’ve known a few people had to switch clubs/pools because the sports centre altered their water treatment/chemicals.

Oh wow I used to get the same! I used to have to take Nurofen before and after a swim.

I put it down to neck tension. I was holding my head in a very odd position. Alongside breath holding and dehydration I think it also raised my blood pressure but once I’d taught myself to relax my neck the headaches stopped.

I get an exertion headache after doing park run but not swimming. My colleague gets an exertion headache after swimming. I'm a better swimmer than runner so it might be related to exertion level?

When the water is very cold if put my head under water I get the surfers' 'ice cream headache' but I'm sea swimming. Keeping my head above water stops it happening.

I get the feeling you're swimming in a pool though. Is it colder than normal?

Mine was thirst I decided, it’s weird to be surrounded by water but actually need to drink more, I ended up taking a water bottle and drinking regularly, it definitely helped.

Even if you haven’t changed goggles they do still change over time. Or your face changes slightly as well perhaps.

tight hat and goggles does this to me!

Some possible ideas:

Tight cap or goggles. As a PP said, even if you haven’t changed them the seal rubber does degrade and it might be pressing in an odd way.

Relatedly, if you wear a cap, check how you’re tucking your hair underneath? If my bun is too high on the back of my head, the goggle straps sit in a weird position and cause pressure.

Water bottle if you don’t already bring one. Could be dehydration.

If you do drink water while swimming, it could also be low sodium. Drop an electrolyte tab in your water.

Check your head position while swimming. If doing freestyle, don’t look up: look down at the bottom & only slightly forward. If doing breaststroke, especially with the head up, it can cause neck strain so see if you can adjust your stroke.

Thanks so much for your ideas. I might ask the pool if they've changed their chemicals. It's an open air heated pool so I always assumed the ventilation reduced the effect of chlorine but of course it does get in contact with the nose.
I'll replace my goggles, they are getting old.
Yesterday I consciously tried to relax my neck more and look down not ahead (freestyle) and on that occasion it made no difference.

I'll keep trying!

Do you wear a nose clip, that could help too?

OP are you somewhere hot and sunny?

My original second thought was that you might be hunching your neck shoulders after exiting (wet hair/noticing cold draughts making you hunch), but maybe you are getting dehydrated in the warmth of the water (to keep it warm compared to external temp).

I'm in the UK, the pool is heated to 28C all year. What's odd is that I've swum there weekly for over a decade with no problems. The pool staff say there's been no change in the chemicals they use.

It feels like a tension headache and sometimes needs two rounds of paracetamol to shift it.

I'll try a nose clip next, I'll replace my goggles too.

Today I made a point of drinking more water prior to swimming and straight afterwards. I still got a pounding headache :(

Sorry to hear it’s still happening.

If it feels like a tension headache then my suspicion would be one (or combo) of hat, goggles and/or head position.

Have you started doing anything differently in your swimming, like increasing distance or trying to improve speed? Sometimes I get a headache after a hard swim where I’ve pushed myself.

Do you wear glasses? Was wondering if it’s an eye issue. Going from glasses to goggles perhaps?
Could the pool lighting be a factor?

I do wear glasses but have done for ages.
I haven't changed my distance or speed
The pool is open air so lighting isn't a factor.

I appreciate all the suggestions! I will have to use a process of elimination to figure it out I think.

As you swim outdoors (though I know you said the pool is heated) might the temperature changes between being out in the pool/on the pool bank and then in the warm changing rooms be contributing? Sometimes temperature changes can contribute to headaches for some people.

(As an aside, it’s so nice to be able to swim outside in a heated pool in winter! I’m able to do this occasionally when I can visit an outdoor pool near work and it’s so lovely)

It could be your breathing as well. Holding breath or not exhaling fully which can create a build up of CO2

Actually you should look ahead, not down on freestyle - minimise the head movement.

Definitely worth revisiting neck and head positioning. I would say you look down and slightly forward with crawl with the neck feeling very neutral in making a minimal movement to the side to breathe. Maybe try bilateral or opposite side breathing in case it’s some neck strain issue?

Breastroke should allow for a nice relaxed extended neck - keeping the head up puts a lot of pressure on the neck and head.

Could you pay for a one to one and get your stroke checked then maybe think about seeing a physio to check your range of movement. Treat it as MOT time!

Great tips everyone thanks. Today I tried different goggles, no headache! But I also did a fairly gentle swim. Will keep trying to identify triggers. Might be the goggles.

My teacher always told me to look down...

OP it could be the goggles, I find that they either leak or are too tight. A lot of people get on well with Aquasphere.

I have this. Swimming is a migraine trigger for me. It’s because of the neck constriction when I do breaststroke. As others have suggested, it’s probably muscular tension/neck related.

I’m a competitive swim coach and this is what we do with our swimmers.

I think it was the damned goggles! Even though I hadn't changed anything.... Hopefully problem solved. Many thanks everyone. Better than ChatGPT!