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Lightheadedness/pass out feeling while performing HIIT?

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…
By Tim Robison
ACSM Personal Trainer, Crossfiter
almost 2 years ago

Replies

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Lightheadedness is a significant sign/symptom. It is also not a good thing if your blood pressure decreases with increasing intensity. The normal heart rate response is to go up with increasing percents of your VO2max.

I would tell the doctor. It is always better safe than sorry.
Tim Garbett
Fitness Professional
almost 2 years ago
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Hi Tim,

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.
Mark Gilbert
Nutritionist and Supplement Specialist
almost 2 years ago
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Hello Tim,

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!
Dan Reardon
Health and Fitness Doctor
almost 2 years ago
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Thank you for the response guys... I'm gonna set up an appointment soon...
Tim Robison
ACSM Personal Trainer, Crossfiter
almost 2 years ago

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