Causes of Lightheadedness During Exercise

Lightheadedness During Exercise

Lightheadedness during exercise typically results from overexertion, dehydration, and low blood sugar. Stop activity and seek medical care to prevent heart and lung complications.

1. Balance Disorders

Conditions that cause balance problems can cause lightheadedness during exercise. Examples include:

• Inner ear disorders
• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke

These conditions can also increase your risk of falling during exercise. Treatments help alleviate symptoms. A physical therapist can teach you how to exercise safely.

2. Low Blood Pressure

Blood is unable to reach the brain, heart, and other body parts if you have low blood pressure. In addition to lightheadedness and dizziness, symptoms can include:

• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness or weakness

Exercise may cause lightheadedness if you are at risk for low blood pressure. Risk factors include alcohol and antidepressant use, nerve damage, arrhythmia, and dehydration. Research has shown that post-exercise hypotension (PEH) often occurs within 20-60 minutes of physical activity.

3. Overexertion

Lightheadedness can also be a sign that you are overdoing it. You can get dizzy if you push yourself too hard, primarily if you are not used to exercising or are not pacing yourself and hydrating.

Excessive exercise may damage your organs, and lightheadedness is an early symptom. It’s great to challenge yourself in your gym sessions, but going so hard your head whirls is not a good idea.  Take it easy by going slower or doing fewer reps. Gradually increase your exercise time and intensity if you are just starting.

4. Heart and Lung Conditions

It can signal an underlying heart problem if you get lightheaded when you work out. Examples include:

• Arrhythmia, or an irregular heart rate
• Congestive heart failure (CHF), in which your heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood throughout your body
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

Lung disease can also make you feel like your head is spinning when you work out. One possible cause is exercise-induced asthma. This condition causes shortness of breath or chest tightness. Exercise can also make you feel lightheaded if you have chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

5. Not Breathing Effectively

Feeling lightheaded and dizzy during exercise might be based on how you breathe. You may have a form of dysfunctional breathing (DB) called hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) if you are not getting enough air.

HVS is when you have acute or chronic hyperventilation (faster breathing) if you are exercising, resting, or stressed. You can become short of breath and lightheaded or dizzy.

 6. Low Blood Sugar

You may have lightheadedness or dizziness due to inadequate calorie intake before exercise. Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) is one of the possible effects. Exercise uses a lot of energy, so you may feel dizzy if you have not appropriately eaten beforehand.

Exercise can cause low blood sugar in people with diabetes, especially if you have not adjusted your diet or insulin beforehand. Talk to a healthcare provider about how to manage your blood sugar when you exercise.

7. Dehydration

Lightheadedness is a severe sign that you are dehydrated. Other severe dehydration symptoms include:

• Changes in mental state (e.g., confusion, delirium, or irritability)
• Dark, yellow urine
• Dry skin or sunken eyes
• Excess thirst
• A lack of urination
• Loss of consciousness
• Rapid breathing or heartbeat
• Shock from a lack of blood flow in the body

Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. The amount of water you need depends on your activity level, age, environment, sex, and overall health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About water and healthier drinks.

 Keep water on hand during your workout to replace any fluids you sweat out.

What To Do

It’s important to stop exercising if you feel lightheaded or dizzy. There are several steps you can take to reduce symptoms, including breathing deeply, eating carbohydrates, and drinking water. Keep in mind that an underlying condition that causes lightheadedness will require diagnosis and medical treatments.

Breathe

Take a moment to take some breaths if you are overexerting yourself or your blood pressure drops too low. It’s important to rest for a few moments until your symptoms go away. Gradually increase your activity when it’s safe to restart. Deep breathing can help bring your breathing and heart rate back to normal. Slowly inhale and exhale until you feel better.

Eat Something

You can eat a snack rich in carbohydrates to treat lightheadedness if your blood sugar gets too low, especially if you have diabetes. Carbohydrates are your body’s primary energy source. The following carbohydrate sources can quickly bring your blood sugar back to normal:

• Fruit juice
• Glucose tablets
• Honey or syrup
• Soft candies
• Sports drink
• Sugar dissolved in water

Hydrate

It’s important to drink plenty of fluids to treat dehydration. You may opt for water or sports drinks, which contain electrolytes. A healthcare provider can treat severe cases of dehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids.

Medical Treatments

You may see a healthcare provider if lightheadedness during exercise persists. A healthcare provider can check for conditions that can cause lightheadedness, including:

• Brain tumors
• Diabetes
• Heart, lung, and inner ear problems
• Low blood pressure
• Migraine

Prevention

You can take these steps to prevent lightheadedness when you work out:

• Do not overexert yourself.
• Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after physical activity.
• Eat a snack that’s rich in carbohydrates and lean proteins beforehand.
• Control your breathing.
• Slowly increase the intensity of your exercise.

When To Seek Care

Exercising is beneficial for most people and even helpful for people with severe conditions. Talk to a healthcare provider to figure out what’s going on, whether it’s just changing your exercise habits or needing treatments.

See a healthcare provider right away if you have lightheadedness and other symptoms like:

• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Head injury
• Headaches or stiff neck
• Hearing, speech, or vision changes
• High fever
• Irregular heartbeat
• Vomiting or trouble keeping fluids down

Other severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:

• Fainting and loss of alertness
• Seizures
• Weakness or inability to move your limbs