An exercise-induced headache can hit you while jogging, playing racquetball or lifting weights. It can even happen during sex.

Most people use exercise to get rid of a headache, but for some people, it causes one.

A recent survey found over 70 percent of headache sufferers, especially with migraine, can lessen the frequency and severity of their headaches with exercise, but in some people, exercise triggers headaches.

"Patients with migraine, who are also more likely to get exercise-induced headache, are also more likely to get a rarer type of headache that occurs during sexual activity, which is also a form of exercise," said Dr. Lawrence Newman.

Doctors aren't sure what causes these headaches. One theory is a sudden rise in blood pressure. Warm-up exercises and taking your time can help.

"If you slowly go into the exercise, you can feel the headache begin and then you can slowly let down on your exercise that you're doing and you can actually ward off the headache and again, slowly go into the exercise," Newman said.

Creative drug strategies have been found to help alleviate problems.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ron Richter had been running for more than a dozen years until frequent headaches stopped him in his tracks.

"I used to get really bad headaches, take a couple of excedrin, then I graduated to three excedrin and then I decided I probably should be asking a doctor before I take four Excedrin," said Richter.

Richter has normal blood pressure on the high side, so he's on blood pressure medicine.

"In addition to bringing my blood pressure into very normal, it seemed to gradually improve my headaches," Richter said.

He still gets some exercise headaches, but now can see his way through them.

Most exercise-related headaches are harmless, but if you're having a run of them, make sure to see your doctor to rule out any serious condition.

For general headache information: american council for headache education at achenet.org.