Fitness

So, I noticed that every single time I do really intense cardio, like, weights mixed with cardio, or jumping around step classes, within 10 minutes I start to get really light headed. My heart beats so hard you can see my chest pumping and it hurts. Then my throat gets tight and starts to close. Last tuesday I went to the trainer, I was there for 15 minutes, we did leg presses and another leg exercise, then he had me do step ups, 15 reps, 3 sets for each leg. By the time I was done I nearly fell over, I couldn't breath. I felt so out of shape but thats not the first time its happened and even when I was in shape I couldn't do hardcore cardio. I read somewhere that it could be exercise induced asthma? When I was 10 I was "diagnosed" as being pre asthmatic, I couldnt run for too long, I'd get short winded too fast. Has anyone else ever had this problem? Should I be worried? Is there any other form of exercise that helps burn off the fat but won't make me black out? When I do the treadmill even walking I get flustered really easy. I can't talk or else I start to spin and I have to hold onto the bars. It's almost like I end up gasping for air. IS this asthma? or is it that I'm out of shape and dont know how to breath right while exercising. It's really starting to scare me.

First, please see a doctor about this; it's not normal.

Second, yes, there is such a thing as exercise-induced asthma.  And the good news is there are medicines that can help!  Improving cardovasuclar condition will help as well. 

When I have asthma flare-ups, I do NOT experience the feeling that I'm going to pass out or black out.  I am not a doctor, but I think something else may be going on here.  Please seek medical help.

All the best. 

That does not sound 'normal' to me... regular unfitness doesn't make you grey-out and get dizzy, just pant and wheeze and go red etc. Please go and see a doctor ASAP and tell them exactly what's going on, because there can be some silent-but-potentially-very-serious physical causes for that kind of problem.

It could be exercise induced asthma, or do you think you could be hypoglycemic? I have reactive hypoglycemia, and when I exercise or don't eat for 3-4 hours, I experience the same feelings, plus my extremities tingle, my speech is slurred, and if I don't get food (or sugar) I usually pass out.

Anyway def see a doctor!!!  Good luck!!!

You could totally be describing my experience. Sometimes it happens if I just stand up too fast. I'll get four steps forward and black out.  

For me it's a cardiovascular thing - specifically vasovagal syncope (basically it means that gravity works against the blood getting all the way up to your head). There's a pretty simple test for it called a tilt table test.

When I exercise I have to wear these tight compression stockings. They help push the blood up from your legs back to your heart.

It also sounds like it might be migraine-related (which could also be a cardiovascular thing).

Just some things that might help.

Vasovagal syncope... is that the same thing as orthostatic hypotension? Cause that's what I have... I do the same thing, get up (even just from sitting), get a few feet away, and black out. :-(

I've always kinda wondered if it had anything to do with my hypoglycemia, or if that has anything to do with my low blood pressure in general. I thought I was the only one it happened to!

I think we all think we're the only one! Vasovagal syncope and orthostatic hypotension sound an awful lot alike to me (I've been diagnosed with both, so go figure).

I think the two main differences are that syncope requires that you actually faint, whereas the orthostatic hypotension seems to include all of the same symptoms except for the fainting.

Also, it seems like orthostatic means that it only happens when you're standing, whereas the vasovagal can also be triggered by a cardiovascular response to emotional stresses as well.

All around, fun fun fun!

Haha, fun fun fun yes. Yeah I don't USUALLY faint, although I have before. Usually my vision goes yellow and sparkly (like static kinda?) and then black. Most of the time since I know what's coming I just kinda sit myself down on the floor lol while I can still see.

Did your doctor tell you what causes this annoying stuff?! I wish I knew. They ran a stress test on me once but there's nothing wrong with my heart. Maybe my blood pressure is just really naturally low. Hm.

Lucky for us, it's not a heart problem. And I don't think it's a general low blood pressure/high blood pressure thing. (I've had pills to raise my blood pressure and to lower it and it doesn't seem to matter much). It has to do with the ability of the veins in the lower part of the body to constrict enough (and at the right time) to push the blood back up. So whenever you feel like a spell is coming on, I think it's always a good idea to lie down on the floor and elevate your feet (to get that blood pumping back to the heart).

Additionally, hot showers, jacuzzis, saunas, anything like that is a disaster for me. Because all the blood is moving toward the skin surface, instead of up to the brain where we need it most!

That makes me feel a lot better! And yeah I hear you on the heat thing. Even just standing around in summer, especially when it's humid, I'll get nauseous and blackout. Showers can be difficult too.

Well good luck! thx for the info :)

thanks you guys, these are definitely things Ill look into. I always felt bad, like I shouldnt be feeling like that and that it was my fault or something. My training seemed to look at me like I had to be kidding. I dont like to eat before the gym, but I do eat atleast an hour before. Ive never blacked out for not eating before, just gets hard to breath when my heart rate is up there. This last time I actually had a sorethroat the next day from how tight my throat got. I have nerve problems, my limbs go to sleep really easy, ive had my entire scalp fall asleep and stay numb for days. I have to sleep with my extremeties out and away from my body. If i pull them in at all they go numb. I think maybe it has to do with blood flow like that vasavagal syncope. Thanks again!