headache

just bad from diving and i have a extremely bad headache its gettin a bit better. i dove twice today 20 mins at 80 feet then took a 1 hour surface interval then another 20 mins at 80 feet i took a 3 minute saftey stop at 15 feet both times, is the headache from something dive related ? i got one after the first dive also.

Brand0n:

just bad from diving and i have a extremely bad headache its gettin a bit better. i dove twice today 20 mins at 80 feet then took a 1 hour surface interval then another 20 mins at 80 feet i took a 3 minute saftey stop at 15 feet both times, is the headache from something dive related ? i got one after the first dive also.

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If you are a member of DAN I would call. Diversalertnetwork.com

im not a member, it dosnt seem to be getting much better may be just from lack of sleep. had a late night last night

Brand0n:

im not a member, it dosnt seem to be getting much better may be just from lack of sleep. had a late night last night

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Call thier 800 number and ask anyway. Don't mess around.

According to wikipedia about 10-15% of DCS cases involve neurological symptoms with headaches and visual disturbances being the most common ones. Just food for thought...

Brand0n:

im not a member, it dosnt seem to be getting much better may be just from lack of sleep. had a late night last night

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DAN gets many inquiries regarding headaches and diving. Probably very few divers who dive regularly have not left the water at least once with some cranial discomfort. This piece reviews the common causes of headaches in diving and offers some simple advice that should solve the problem in most cases.

Finding the cause of a headache is probably unnecessary if it happens only once or twice, occurs in the absence of any other symptoms and clears spontaneously or with only mild analgesics. However, a few divers complain of frequent and more troublesome headaches, and it is for these individuals that the following considerations and suggestions are intended.

One way to find the cause of a headache is to run through a checklist of possible causes and eliminate them one by one. While not an exhaustive list, these may include:

Anxiety / Tension
Sinus or Ear Barotrauma
Sinus and Ear Infections
Cold
Saltwater Aspiration
Mask Squeeze
Temporomandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)
Dental Problems
Gas Toxicity (especially high CO2)
Decompression Illness
Migraine
Hyperextension of the Neck
Cervical Spondyosis
Caffeine and Other Drugs
By simply looking at the list, you can already see that the origins of headaches are truly diverse. However, important clues can usually be found in the history taken from someone who develops headaches regularly. These five key questions may provide an answer to the causes of headaches:

1. Have you had previous head or neck problems, injuries or regular headaches, even when not diving?
Divers who develop headaches regularly above water are also very likely to get them underwater. Such headaches, especially if they are associated with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abnormal sensations, vision, abnormal smell or even paralysis, may be serious and require assessment by a specialist neurologist.

Migraine, a relative contraindication to scuba diving, requires expert assessment. Headaches may also result from tension, large caffeine intake and menstrual changes, among other reasons.

A bad-fitting mouthpiece can also cause headache: some regulators are quite heavy in the water and require a constant "bite" to stay in place. Swapping regulators or trying different mouthpieces may spell the end of a continuous string of headaches. In the end, it is always better to own your own equipment once you have found what works for you.

Divers with previous neck or upper back problems or injuries are very prone to develop headaches underwater or even as a result of a bumpy boat trip. The underlying bony problems lead to muscle spasms, which in turn cause the headache. A medical specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon, should assess these problems. Physiotherapy and muscle-strengthening exercises are often of value. Some report improvement after visiting a chiropractor. Back surgery is usually a last resort.

Brand0n:

just bad from diving and i have a extremely bad headache its gettin a bit better. i dove twice today 20 mins at 80 feet then took a 1 hour surface interval then another 20 mins at 80 feet i took a 3 minute saftey stop at 15 feet both times, is the headache from something dive related ? i got one after the first dive also.

Click to expand...

Headaches and Scuba Diving
From Melissa Rodriguez,
Your Guide to Scuba Diving.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Causes, Preventions and Treatments for Dive Headaches
Diving headaches have spoiled many a scuba diver’s vacation or dive trip. There are several different causes associated with headaches and diving. It can be as simple as your mask strap being overly tight or as complicated as a symptom of DCS. Here are some common causes, preventions and treatments for diving headaches.
Sinus Headache
A sinus headache is caused by a sinus squeeze during ascents and descents. The symptoms are pain in the forehead, pain in the face or pain in the cheekbone area. A diving headache caused by a sinus squeeze is due to the failure to equalize pressure. Other causes include inflammation of the sinuses or nasal cavity due to allergies or a cold. Remedies include slowing your ascents and descents or using decongestants. The best medicine of all is to not dive when you are sick.

Tension Headache
Symptoms of a tension headache are pain in the head and pain in the back of the neck. Tension headaches are caused by muscle strain due to anxiety and muscular rigidity. Clenching your jaw during the dive can also cause a tension headache. To prevent the development of muscle strain, and consequently a tension headache, you must learn to relax in the water. Eventually you will stop getting this type of headache if you dive within your abilities, gain experience and become comfortable in the water.

Migraine Headache
Symptoms of migraine headaches include severe pain, visual changes, weakness or numbness of an arm and nausea. These symptoms will prevent a migraine sufferer from scuba diving because of the risk of an injury or an accident. Also, many of the medications used to treat migraines contain drugs which will increase the risk of nitrogen narcosis. Anyone who suffers from migraine headaches and wishes to scuba dive must consult a physician, preferably one who has knowledge of scuba diving medicine.

Carbon Dioxide Toxicity
A dull throbbing head pain after diving is usually a symptom of a headache caused by carbon dioxide toxicity. This type of headache is common to divers and is caused by a build up of carbon dioxide in the body. This increase in waste gas is usually due to hypoventilation (too little air intake). Hypoventilation usually happens because a scuba diver doesn’t take large enough breaths from his or her air tank or doesn’t breathe often enough. Simply put, not breathing enough to get rid of the carbon dioxide created in the body will lead to a build up and cause a headache. The best treatment for this type of headache is to take slow, deep breaths to reduce the build up. Carbon dioxide headaches don’t respond well to pain relievers.

DCS Headache
Headaches can also be a sign of decompression sickness (DCS). DCS is caused by the formation of bubbles as dissolved nitrogen comes out of the tissues on ascent. DCS can lead to permanent physical impairment or death. Seek immediate medical attention if a diver complains of a headache and has other signs of DCS: joint pain, swelling, skin rash, itching, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, and extreme exhaustion. A scuba diver is at risk of DCS when he or she does not decompress after long or deep dives, before surfacing, or when he or she ascends too quickly or makes a panic ascent.

Things you can do to help prevent headaches and enjoy your dive are: loosen your mask strap to avoid excess pressure, relax during the dive, take slow deep breaths, avoid caffeine and tobacco, perform a safety stop before surfacing, practice safe diving, and wear sufficient thermal protection.

Brand0n:

just bad from diving and i have a extremely bad headache its gettin a bit better. i dove twice today 20 mins at 80 feet then took a 1 hour surface interval then another 20 mins at 80 feet i took a 3 minute saftey stop at 15 feet both times, is the headache from something dive related ? i got one after the first dive also.

Click to expand...

Most diving headaches are caused by either carbon dioxide retention or sinus barotrauma. Here are the most common headaches resulting from diving and what you can do to prevent them.

Carbon Dioxide Headaches
Symptoms: Post-dive localized throbbing pain
The carbon dioxide headache, one of the most common for divers, is caused by an increase in the body's carbon dioxide level, which stimulates receptors in the brain's blood vessels. An increase in the brain's blood flow to these receptors leads to headaches. Typically, they are caused by a diver taking shallow sips of air, which allows carbon dioxide to accumulate. This buildup can also occur when a diver "skip breathes" by pausing after each inhalation and holding the throat closed. Taking measured, slow, complete breaths under water is the best way to avoid carbon dioxide headaches, which don't respond to analgesics or migraine medications.

Tension Headaches
Symptoms: Post-dive neck and head pain
New divers often experience tension headaches resulting from the stress of their first experiences in the underwater world. Clenched jaws and muscular stress in the neck and back of the head lead to these types of headaches, which usually disappear once the diver gains experience and becomes more relaxed under water.

Migraine Headaches
Symptoms: Severe headaches with nausea
Post-dive vomiting can be caused by a migraine headache, but, if coupled with other symptoms, could indicate a DCS headache. If the diver has a history of migraine headaches, then there could be a direct correlation between diving and the onset of the cranial pressure. Unless they are able to take measures to prevent a migraine attack, people with migraines should not dive. If the diver has migraines accompanied by visual anomalies, he should be checked for patent foramen ovale, which may be a factor in undeserved DCS hits.

DCS Headaches
Symptoms: Post-dive headache with neurological deficit
A headache that comes on strong after a dive, coupled with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, joint pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears, muscle aches, localized swelling, itching or skin rash, could indicate the onset of Type II decompression illness or an arterial gas embolism. This, the most severe dive-related headache, requires a quick response from onboard personnel and a call to the Divers Alert Network to coordinate hyperbaric treatment.

Sinus Headaches
Symptoms: Forehead, face and eye pain during ascent or descent
A diver without a history of migraines could be suffering from a sinus headache, especially if he has a history of problems equalizing. Shifting pressure based on changes in depth without proper equalization can lead to sinus barotrauma. This pain usually spreads across the forehead and eyes. Thus, inflammation of the sinuses, caused by colds or allergies, can further complicate diving.

Thanks alot for all that info i read threw it and seems like Tension Headache describes my situation becouse my pain is in the back of my neck and head. iv never had a headack like this before tho this is the deepest i ever dove also, before this the deepest i went was 40 feet.

Brand0n:

Thanks alot for all that info i read threw it and seems like Tension Headache describes my situation becouse my pain is in the back of my neck and head. iv never had a headack like this before tho this is the deepest i ever dove also, before this the deepest i went was 40 feet.

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As others have said Tension and Carbon Dioxide headaches are the most common. A few more dives will relax you more and that will take care of the tension headache. I used to get carbon dioxide headaches until I figured out that I wasn't breathing deeply enough. Deeper breathing will take care of those headaches.

Good luck.