This Morning was a Little Scary..

Ok, I walk the treadmill every morning. 1 hour @ level 6 (3.6 mph, incline @ 7°).  I've been doing this for a couple of months now. Well, today, I got up late and thought maybe, I could do level 7 (3.8 mph, incline @ 9°) for a half hour due to time restraints. not much difference, right? Well, about 10 minutes into it, at incline grade of 9, I started to get light-headed, and then I started hyper-ventilating. I almost went into a panic. I've had problems in the past with heart palpitations and I thought I was in serious trouble!  Being 4:45 in the morning, everyone asleep in the house, I couldn't get anyone's attention. Very scary!  All I could think to do was lower the speed of the treadmill and walk it off.  It DID pass, but now I'm worried.

My question is, did I do too much, too soon? Am I not ready for level 7 yet?

No one?

Perhaps this is one of those things for which seeing a doctor would be a good idea.

I agree with cnichols. Mind as well see a doctor. Why risk it? If your doctor finds something wrong, you'll be so glad you checked it out....

My grandfather was raking leaves one day and apparently felt similarly to how you felt on the treadmill... shaky/lightheaded/pressure in his chest. Well, he didn't do anyhting about it, and a couple days later he had a heart atttack! He lived... he ended up needing a quadruple bipass. He's fine now. 89 years old and still raking leaves. But the moral to the story is that you should definitely go see a doctor.

I agree going to the doctor is your best bet. If you lucky the best thing he is going to tell you is to monitor your breathing and make sure you are taking good smooth deep breaths that allow enough air to get into your lower lungs. Worst case  well that's for the doc to decide but Opposite to what "The Finder" (TV show spinn off from Bones) says " I'mma not risk it".

 

 

I see my doctor regularly every year, like clockwork. I've told him about the palpitations a few years ago, and after a few tests, he put me on high blood pressure meds. Not because I have high blood pressure, but because I have an "irregular" heart beat. The blood pressure meds keep my beat at a normal rhythm. All other tests were/have been normal since. This hyperventilating episode only happened this one time (so far) and I just thought that maybe someone out there experienced the same thing. I'm 48 years old, (143 pounds, 5'8"). I'm thinking maybe its a possibility it has something to do with menopause, pre-menopause (?), or I'm just not ready yet to "level up" on the treadmill. Again, thought maybe someone else experienced this

I agree with everyone else and add: that is already quite the pace and incline. So early in the morning too. Maybe your blood sugar dropped too rapidly and you got exhausted too fast. Did you eat and drink before the work out?

Hi kacka, I never thought about my blood sugar bring low. Never had a problem with that in the past, but who knows? And no, I didn't eat anything, but I do have bottled water with me at all times. I had some of that before and during my walk.

Hang in there!

Did you eat anything before your workout???? sounds like low blood pressure or something. You have to eat in order to get some energy, your body can use during your workouts. Even though walking doesn't sound like a work out at all..... Maybe you should see a doctor since you've dealt with heart palpitations before so.. Just to be sure!

I think it's worth noting here that what you are describing is not something that is typical.  Going at a level you are not ready for will not normally result in the type of symptoms you are describing.  Something else is going on and I agree with the others that a trip to the doctor to find out what it is is in order.  But it's your call.

NicoInYourFace...

1 hour @ level 6 (3.6 mph, incline @ 7°). Level 7 (3.8 mph, incline @ 9°)... This doesn't sound like a workout at all?? Are you kidding me? Am I just wasting my time doing it then?

Guess I'm in worse shape than I thought!

Go see the doctor...

...and get yourself a heart rate monitor (HRM).  It will give you a better idea of how hard you REALLY are working (i.e. current and average heart rate as a percentage of your maximum) as opposed to levels/incline on the treadmill.

 

Original Post by NicoInYourFace: Even though walking doesn't sound like a work out at all.....

Ambling at 2.5 mph on a level surface isn't that much of a workout. Walking up a 9% grade at 3.9 mph is a hell of a lot of work being done.

Thanks for everyone's input. My annual physical is coming up, so I will mention this to my Dr.

Been wanting to get an HRM too. At least then, I'll be able to monitor myself. Thanks for that suggestion!

Can anyone recommend a good one?

This happened to me today on the elliptical at the gym. I decided that I would try doing HIIT on it, Did my warm up did my first set and it didn't leave me as breathless as I thought it should. So I upped it a bit (a bit to much) I got to breathless and shaky so I went into a panic. (I suffer from panic attack anyways) Nothing worse then being in a panic and passing out at the gym  But it would be better than the situation you was in with no one around. So maybe that's what happened to you and on top of that you're blood sugar may have dropped but if it happens again I would definitely talk to your doctor.

Original Post by Leppardess:

NicoInYourFace...

1 hour @ level 6 (3.6 mph, incline @ 7°). Level 7 (3.8 mph, incline @ 9°)... This doesn't sound like a workout at all?? Are you kidding me? Am I just wasting my time doing it then?

Guess I'm in worse shape than I thought!

Don't listen to this comment, have you seen his bicep shot???