Brief Answer:
Some common causes should be ruled out for such sharp head pain

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

He is having sharp headache for about a week especially during exercise. There is no dizziness, blurred vision, nausea and loss of appetite. Pain is most intense when he jumps.

See such type of headache can occur due to few possible reasons which can be kept in differential diagnosis like some Sinusitis, Migraine, Hypertension or Weightlifters headache.

Migraine can be ruled out easily because he is not having classical migraine pain associated with nausea, dizziness, blurred vision. Secondly it is not episodic and is specially associated with exertion. Also most of individuals with migraine get relief with exercise so we can easily rule out migraine.

Pain in head exacerbated by exercise can occur due to chronic sinusitis. In chronic sinusitis due to collection of fluids in sinus cavities specially in frontal sinus may result in severe throbbing type of pain and the pain can be exacerbated by exercise. If the pain is more localised in frontal region and he has history of recent cold then this can be a possibility. An X-ray Caldwell's View should be done to rule out any collection of fluids in sinus cavity. Nasal decongestants, OTC pain medicines along with steam inhalation will help in reduction of pain due to chronic sinusitis.

If both migraine and chronic sinusitis is ruled out then other possible reason is sharp pain due to hypertension. Due to lifting of weights and strenuous exercise blood supply to brain increased and this result in sharp increase in pain in hypertensives. I would advise you to get his Blood Pressure checked during resting state and during exercise and if this comes in hypertensive range then consult your GP for detailed treatment of hypertension. Most of individuals with such pain respond to life styles measures and few need medicines.

If all these causes can be ruled out then we are left with Weightlifter's headache as possible reason for his pain. Such type of pain is commonly seen in individuals and increased blood flow to brain is the reason behind such symptoms. Some times even non hypertensives can show similar clinical presentation. Common OTC analgesics can help to reduce pain. He has taken Excedrine and if that medicines caused relief then he can continue to take this medicine on SOS basis prior to exercise for some time to reduce the severity of pain.

If pain persist even with analgesics then consult a doctor and get his brain imaging done to rule out any morphological region (though the possibility is very rare still should be ruled out). Visit a doctor for making proper diagnosis, and please don't be distressed as such type of headache is quite common in people while exercising.

Thanks, if you have more doubts please ask again.

Take care

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Brief Answer:
He should continue to workout without any fear

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking a follow up again

As per my opinion he should not stop working out. Exercise is preventive in a lot of conditions so work out should be continued.

He should start with good warm up or with light exercises at least for 20-30 minutes and then he can start his lifting of weights. In most cases this warm up prevents or reduces intensity of headache.

In most individuals the headache reduces in severity in about 4-8 weeks. Ask your husband to continue to exercise daily the headache will reduce in severity in some time.

Intermittently he can take any good OTC analgesic drug when he is going to do more headache provoking exercises especially during Chest or Shoulder work outs.

Thanks, don't hesitate to ask again if you still have more questions or doubts.

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