Is it normal to feel your heart beat in your head during exercise?

[anxious_thoughts]

Hi guys,

Today I did some exercise and I could feel my heart pounding in my head, which subsided a couple minutes after when I took a rest.

Is that normal? It’s been happening for years but makes me anxious when I feel and hear the pounding.

[tantopat]

It sounds like it could be down to increased blood pressure, which is a completely normal physical reaction to exercise. Due to the muscles' need for more oxygen while working out, your blood pressure will increase to make sure they're all given a steady supply. With that in mind, the blood flow to your head will increase too, meaning you're more likely to feel your pulse in your head as well as elsewhere. Just make sure you're drinking enough, as dehydration can apparently exacerbate it a little, but if it's happened for years it sounds like it is just your body increasing your blood flow to let you exercise longer.

[anxious_thoughts]

It sounds like it could be down to increased blood pressure, which is a completely normal physical reaction to exercise. Due to the muscles' need for more oxygen while working out, your blood pressure will increase to make sure they're all given a steady supply. With that in mind, the blood flow to your head will increase too, meaning you're more likely to feel your pulse in your head as well as elsewhere. Just make sure you're drinking enough, as dehydration can apparently exacerbate it a little, but if it's happened for years it sounds like it is just your body increasing your blood flow to let you exercise longer.

Thank you for your informative response, Tantopat! That makes total sense.