Just wondering if anyone else is suffering from this and noticing a correlation with their fitness state. My siblings both suffer from mildly compromised autonomic systems. My own dip in that collective gene pool seems to be a legacy of more frequent than usual lightheadedness spells on standing up due to reduced blood pressure. I have just started to notice that these event correlate more with increased fitness. So I did a bit of digging on it and it seems that while exercise increases the blood plasma and thus reduces the susceptibility to these low blood pressure events, it also increases the heart stroke volume which raises the sensitivity in trained individuals…
My own experience is that I seem more prone when I am fitter and also on the day of a serious effort: If I have to get out of the sofa, I do take it very gingerly or brace for it.
I also found reference to a twins study where they got one to do core strength work and found him subsequently robust to it compared to his twin… So I guess I know what I have to do…
I have this as part of EDS and regularly get very lightheaded when standing up (always have done). Not sure if it’s worse when I’m fitter but I could believe it.
I would like to say I’m careful and don’t stand up quickly but I frequently forget until it happens and I’m about to faint.
I just crouch down or lean over before it’s too late!
I’ve noticed this after hard workouts. The last two workouts, I tacked on 15 min mid zone 2, and it doesn’t seem as severe. I usually find myself squatting fairly often the rest of that day, but not so much now.
I do. Whenever I’m consistently training I appear to be at risk for it. I used to workout for several months and then just stop or get very inconsistent. Generally it would go away during these times. Another big trigger for me is alchohol. And anytime I’m outside doing yardwork that requires squatting (eg, gardening) it’s like every time.
I suspect there some volume- and electrolyte-depletion at play here even though I’m aggressive in trying to stay on top of it. To make it more exciting I’m hypertensive and am on medication for that.
I’ve passed out a couple times in the past, but i’m now pretty in tune with it. I feel it coming on with a good few seconds notice and can take countermeasures (grab a chair or something, dip your head). Very occasionally it comes on very quickly and I just need to get on the floor asap. Better to look like an idiot than pass out and smash your head.
I’ll get this after hard days. I hop up from the couch and hop up the stairs and by the time I’m walking, I’m feeling light-headed. Wears off in a sec. Never worried about it.
I have it pretty severely. It is worse now than when I was younger. 46 now. I am also more fit now than in any time I can remember. I get it basically any time I go from squatting to standing. I am currently refinishing a front doorway and going low/high to follow the brush stroke is the worst. As is most outdoor yardwork.
Curiously, I almost never get it on the bike, or directly after. Nor do I get it when doing squats, burpees, yoga or other workout moves that simulate those movements. I also only get it very rarely from chair or bed to standing. But that low squat to standing move, which I tend to be in a lot it seems (formerly small kids, dogs, yardwork, house repairs), is the worst.
One doctor explained it has to do with the blood rushing to my lower legs once I come out of the squat. Normal nervous systems tell the body to restrict the vessels in order to keep from having the blood rush out of your brain too fast.
Stress, heat, humidity all seem to be factors for me.
I also have low blood pressure and Reynaud’s. I am pretty sure it is auto immune related.
Adding salt to my diet and drinking lots in order to try to ameliorate it helps a bit. I have been to an auto immune doctor. They wanted to put me on steroids to first get by BP up, then vasodialators for the Reynaud’s and Ortho. I didn’t yet want to go that route. The Ortho is annoying. The Reynaud’s is more life and mood impacting.
I’ve been experiencing same issues last couple of years. Symptoms also strongly correlate with fitness - the fitter I get the more often it happens to me. Since winter I’ve been doing similar core brace and leg muscles crimp practice when standing up and feeling light-headed. @simonicusfacilis Thanks for describing the procedure.
