Headaches on final reps

[liftsiron]

See that's what I'm talking about exactly. I always exhale on the push or pull breath in on the way down. But I'll be damned, a vein in the left side of my head will just about pop out and while I don't turn color - I certainly feel that pain sharply for about 20-30 seconds. I will certainly be careful with this. Thank you.

It's normal for your breath to cease for a second or two during a heavy lift, but sometime you need to remember to breath.

[the art of war]

Be very careful a few young guys over the years have given themselves strokes holding their breath to long on heavy lifts. Many years ago I witnessed a good friend pass out and drop to the floor after racking the weight after a set of squats.
He didn't wake up, we called an ambulance. A blood vessel had popped in his brain causing a very slight stroke. He had a near immediate 100% recovery. He never held his breath for very long after that. I remember before the incident he offend complain of headaches when working legs. His face would be purple after a set.

See that's what I'm talking about exactly. I always exhale on the push or pull breath in on the way down. But I'll be damned, a vein in the left side of my head will just about pop out and while I don't turn color - I certainly feel that pain sharply for about 20-30 seconds. I will certainly be careful with this. Thank you.

[liftsiron]

I hold my breath on most heavy sets. My partner is always yelling at me to breath. I'm not recommending it. But hey... It works for me.

Be very careful a few young guys over the years have given themselves strokes holding their breath to long on heavy lifts. Many years ago I witnessed a good friend pass out and drop to the floor after racking the weight after a set of squats.
He didn't wake up, we called an ambulance. A blood vessel had popped in his brain causing a very slight stroke. He had a near immediate 100% recovery. He never held his breath for very long after that. I remember before the incident he offend complain of headaches when working legs. His face would be purple after a set.

[Chadd77]

I hold my breath on most heavy sets. My partner is always yelling at me to breath. I'm not recommending it. But hey... It works for me.

[liftsiron]

Sounds as if you maybe holding your breath to long on some reps, or forgetting to breathe at all. DON'T try to regulate breathing let the body do it for you, just make sure that you don't hold your breath to long.

[the art of war]

I figured I was just in lousy cardio shape (this may well be) - but even doing cardio some days 2x I never get headaches - I stick to 8-12 reps on most exercises and I find that I get a brutal headache by the 9th rep ... if it's deadlifts or a power movement and I'm at 6-8 .. I don't have this problem. It's strictly that rep range. Any ideas why ? I can easily switch my training up and do a different rep range, this is just what I've responded to well on certain muscle groups so I'd prefer not too. I have one cup of coffee in the morning - no stimulants at all. Any input appreciated.