Lightheadedness After Exercise

The feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness is caused by the shortage in supply of oxygen or blood to the brain. It results from rapid dehydration or low blood pressure. Lightheadedness which is experienced after exercise is due to the blood flow that results from increased or harder pumping of the heart. One of the causes of lightheadedness after exercise is the abrupt cessation of exercise.

Causes of Lightheadedness
It is necessary to know what causes lightheadedness before understanding the treatments for it. The lightheaded feeling or dizziness is commonly observed among those who perform vigorous exercises like running and other such workouts. During an exercise, the heart beats faster in comparison to its normal rate. It helps in providing sufficient blood to the muscles that are being exercised. Thus, one might experience lightheadedness after exercise. The state of dizziness is somewhat similar to vertigo; however in vertigo, one feels as if he is whirling, spinning or tilting. Nausea is also one of the symptoms of lightheadedness exhibited along with dizziness after exercise. The blood which is used up by high-intensity muscular activities and taken away from the intestinal tracts results into the experience of nausea after exercise. It is but natural to feel worried by the experience of dizziness or lightheadedness. However, one should understand that the reasons for lightheadedness could be varied and many different complications might be involved in it. Read more on common causes of dizziness.

The experience of lightheadedness though, is not a big problem yet, if it occurs during exercise then one should look into the matter seriously. It might be an indication of a heart diseases which needs immediate treatment. In such cases, exercising should be aborted and medical help should be sought immediately.

What to do for Lightheadedness?
The immediate step to be taken by a person experiencing lightheadedness is to lie down in a manner that the head is at the same level to that of the heart. It causes blood to flow towards the brain and reduces the feeling of dizziness. Before coming to a halt during vigorous physical activities like workouts and running, it is necessary to slow down gradually. For example, after running for a long distance, one should keep jogging for a short distance before finally stopping. One should also check whether the reason for lightheadedness is heat stroke. Heat stroke is also one of the major causes of dizziness.

Keeping the body hydrated and having a nutritious diet is necessary to avoid any possibility of lightheadedness or dizziness. Having a light snack before working out also helps in preventing lightheadedness. Breathing properly while working out helps in supplying enough oxygen to the muscles. Many people hold the breath unknowingly while working out. It restricts the flow oxygen to the muscles in need of energy. Warming up before the exercise and cooling down after performing it is necessary in order to maintain a sound health. The different stretching exercises and techniques help in warming up the body and conditioning it properly. Building up the stamina is important because it helps to increase the endurance level and one doesn't fall short of energy while working out. Problems like severe dizziness could be minimized with the above measures.

The feeling of lightheadedness after exercise shouldn't cause much worry. However, one should take proper care of his health, consume nutritious food and perform various lightheadedness exercises that are easygoing, in order to keep this problem in check.