Lightheadedness/pass out feeling while performing HIIT?
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I feel like I've been eating right and properly hydrating throughout the day, but sometimes I get lightheaded enough that I feel like I could pass out if I continue working out at a decent pace… I also feel like I am exhausted even though I am not breathing heavy… When I check my heart pulse during this time of light headedness it is low in the 110-120 zone compared to my average of 160-170 and I can feel the actual pressure seems low as well… I know I cant tell the exact pressure for sure, but it definitely isn’t throbbing as much as other times I feel fine and check it during my HIIT workouts…
Today my workout consisted of: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps as fast as possible of: push ups, squats (no weight), dumbbell curls, flat leg sit ups, and shoulder press… Right around the 12 minute mark I started feeling lightheaded like I described above… My time was a horrible 23 minutes when last week I did this workout in 18 minutes… Last week I felt fine throughout…
I have noticed this phenomenon to be intermittent… Sometimes it’s a week or two before it happens… Sometimes its shorter/longer… I used to think it was from drinking over the weekend, but I have cut back a lot and it still persists… Could this be a hormone problem or something physiological I should get checked out? I am 31 now and haven’t had a physical/checkup since I was 20 in the Army… Any suggestions would be appreciated…
Today my workout consisted of: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps as fast as possible of: push ups, squats (no weight), dumbbell curls, flat leg sit ups, and shoulder press… Right around the 12 minute mark I started feeling lightheaded like I described above… My time was a horrible 23 minutes when last week I did this workout in 18 minutes… Last week I felt fine throughout…
I have noticed this phenomenon to be intermittent… Sometimes it’s a week or two before it happens… Sometimes its shorter/longer… I used to think it was from drinking over the weekend, but I have cut back a lot and it still persists… Could this be a hormone problem or something physiological I should get checked out? I am 31 now and haven’t had a physical/checkup since I was 20 in the Army… Any suggestions would be appreciated…
By Tim Robison
ACSM Personal Trainer, Crossfiter
ACSM Personal Trainer, Crossfiter
almost 2 years ago
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exercise
I would tell the doctor. It is always better safe than sorry.
Fitness Professional
Dr Dan may have more insight into this but as Tim suggests, you should talk to your doctor about this, as there could be a variety of reasons for it.
Nutritionist and Supplement Specialist
Feeling faint and light headed on exertion is a symptom that we take seriously. The reason is that you are feeling this way as a result of your heart working harder, and this shouldn't happen.
Rather than real off a million different causes, I would suggest seeing you family doctor and getting an ECG/EKG. Sometimes this can be the presentation of abnormal heart rhythms, but I will say that athletes with these sorts of issues are taken very seriously.
Get it checked out!
Health and Fitness Doctor
ACSM Personal Trainer, Crossfiter