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Can Holding One's Breath While Lifting Weights Cause Brain Damage?
Question: Can holding one's breath while lifting weights cause brain damage? There was 4-5 week period where I lifted weight 5 times a week. I held my breath while doing this for each set lasting about 30 - 40 seconds. In between sets I would rest about 1 minute. It gave me headaches a couple of hours after I left the gym. I had an mri scan 5 months later and it was clear.
Brief Answer:
Holding breath more than 3 minutes causes brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your query here at HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Holding breath more than 3 minutes causes definitive brain damages.
Holding breath less than 3 minutes if any damage caused is reversible.
In your case headache was most probably caused by increased intracranial pressure during weightlifting, (straining or Valsalva maneuver), not by holding breath for 40 seconds.
In my opinion, you shouldn't worry about brain damage, this supported by MRI too.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Take care.
Holding breath more than 3 minutes causes brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your query here at HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Holding breath more than 3 minutes causes definitive brain damages.
Holding breath less than 3 minutes if any damage caused is reversible.
In your case headache was most probably caused by increased intracranial pressure during weightlifting, (straining or Valsalva maneuver), not by holding breath for 40 seconds.
In my opinion, you shouldn't worry about brain damage, this supported by MRI too.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Can increased intracranial pressure cause brain damage?
Brief Answer:
In your case the answer is no.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
In your case no, chronic increased intracranial pressure or sudden increase by other diseases such intracranial bleeding eg. cause brain damage.
Hope I helped you.
In your case the answer is no.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
In your case no, chronic increased intracranial pressure or sudden increase by other diseases such intracranial bleeding eg. cause brain damage.
Hope I helped you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
When lifting I wasn't consciously performing the valsalva maneuver though. To perform the valsalva one needs to exhale against a closed glottis correct? I wasn't really doing that I was just holding my breath. Would this still increase icp?
Brief Answer:
Valsalva explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Valsalva maneuver is performed by forceful exhalation against closed airway and not always is done consciously.
So, technically, if you held your breath and strained, this is a Valsalva maneuver.
Let's say your after straining headache is similar to a headache after prolonged excessive coughing.
Raised ICP during Valsalva (or straining) is mainly related to sudden increase of blood pressure ( blocked venous drainage).
This kind of ICP raising is found almost in every day activities, so, again, you have nothing to worry about.
If you feel some type of neurologic symptoms, you could share them, I will be happy to help.
Best regards.
Valsalva explained below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Valsalva maneuver is performed by forceful exhalation against closed airway and not always is done consciously.
So, technically, if you held your breath and strained, this is a Valsalva maneuver.
Let's say your after straining headache is similar to a headache after prolonged excessive coughing.
Raised ICP during Valsalva (or straining) is mainly related to sudden increase of blood pressure ( blocked venous drainage).
This kind of ICP raising is found almost in every day activities, so, again, you have nothing to worry about.
If you feel some type of neurologic symptoms, you could share them, I will be happy to help.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thanks for your answers
What exactly does straining mean in this context? Does it mean putting in effort?
Why doesn't temporary increased icp (like in my case) cause brain damage like other causes of icp?
Does icp keep increasing the longer you strain and breath hold?
What exactly does straining mean in this context? Does it mean putting in effort?
Why doesn't temporary increased icp (like in my case) cause brain damage like other causes of icp?
Does icp keep increasing the longer you strain and breath hold?
Brief Answer:
There are compensatory mechanisms that balance ICP.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Yes, straining in this context means a little bit more effort than normal one.
Temporary raise in ICP in your case does not cause damage because the short time of duration and because compensating mechanics to lower it are intact.
Theoretically longer duration of straining and breath hold should cause more elevated ICP, but after few moments compensating mechanisms start to balance the ICP.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Best regards.
There are compensatory mechanisms that balance ICP.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
Yes, straining in this context means a little bit more effort than normal one.
Temporary raise in ICP in your case does not cause damage because the short time of duration and because compensating mechanics to lower it are intact.
Theoretically longer duration of straining and breath hold should cause more elevated ICP, but after few moments compensating mechanisms start to balance the ICP.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Is there a reason why my headache would appear a few hours after doing exercise rather than during it?
Brief Answer:
Two possible causes of headaches.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
In my opinion, there are two possible explanations why your headache starts after and not during physical activity:
1. your headaches may be caused by fatigued and strained cervical muscles
2. during exercise increased ICP causes vasoconstriction (narrowing) of brain arteries that converts in vasodilation gradually after stopping the effort and causing a migraine-like headache.
Headaches that happen abruptly during physical effort are more related to increased ICP or hemorrhage in the setting of other brain lesions and abnormalities, excluded in your case by MRI.
So, your condition is benign.
Take care.
Two possible causes of headaches.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
In my opinion, there are two possible explanations why your headache starts after and not during physical activity:
1. your headaches may be caused by fatigued and strained cervical muscles
2. during exercise increased ICP causes vasoconstriction (narrowing) of brain arteries that converts in vasodilation gradually after stopping the effort and causing a migraine-like headache.
Headaches that happen abruptly during physical effort are more related to increased ICP or hemorrhage in the setting of other brain lesions and abnormalities, excluded in your case by MRI.
So, your condition is benign.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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