Exercising and dizziness, please read

[leealee]

Hello I'm a 21 year old male who on Thanksgiving Day had a couple scary beats, followed by a panic attack, which was caused by dehydration. Since Thanksgiving, I've had an echo, chest x-ray, blood work, 5 physical exams, holter monitor, and ekg. The echo and x-ray came back negative. The monitor said the rhythm was normal sinus rhythm with palpitations. The EKG said I also had sinus arrhythmia which was completely normal according to websites and the doctors. I recnetly went to the doctor and had a physical exam, and he heard irregular beats, but nothing serious. I attributed it to nervousness cause I was very nervous. However, the thing that concerns me is I haven't exercised seriously since Thanksgiving and I used to be an exercise freak. Today, I went on a short walk and it was cold outside, but when I came home I was out of breath, legs weak, sleepy tired, a little dizzy, and I just didn't feel right. I was wondering if this was from not exercising for such a long time? Does anyone have any advice? I just don't feel right and I didn't know if it was from not exercisign or an underlying problem. All of my tests came back good, but It feels like something is wrong. I have had panic attacks and some anxiety recently, please help me.

[anacyde]

I often experience lightheaded sensations and dizziness after exercise if I am doing a lot of forward motion (i.e. treadmill, rollerblading, brisk walking, bicycling) that gets my heart rate up for a while.  I suspect in my case it is a combination of my body adjusting to stopping (motion) and also the changes in my circulation (blood pressure, etc.).

There's definitely something to be said for not exercising and then getting back into it.  Certainly it will cause some unpleasantness at first, but getting active will help your anxiety (it helps mine a LOT) and also may ease your palpitations some too.

[fearfactor]

Well, I finally started back exercising yesterday morning after a year-long hiatus!  I have been too scared to do it because of my heart, but I want to wear those size 4 pre-baby jeans again!  I did OK yesterday but pushed a bit too hard today and got palps toward the end.  I know you're active - do you get palps during exercise?  I don't want fear to stop me reaching my goals.  

[fearfactor]

I spoke too soon - I just read your post a few topics down about you getting palps during exercise!  I am without insurance at the moment so I can't go to the doc and get checked out, but I guess I'll assume they are just from being de-conditioned and push through unless they get too bad!  :)

[CollegeGirl143]

dont let palps stop you from excersizing.. If they're benign, they are benign even if they bug you during exerscize..

Working out, running on the treadmill and eliptical helped me SO much with my anxiety and just feeling better..

[anacyde]

Actually, starting back to exercising to fit into my pre-baby jeans, lol, was when I started having the exercise-induced PACs.  I didn't pay them much mind at first, but then it kept up so I went to my cardiologist (last March, actually).  Well as you probably know I was diagnosed with a borderline PPCM, but interestingly enough the palpitations had nothing to do with the PPCM.  I was lucky.  If it weren't for the coincidental PACs, I'd never have known my heart was in any distress.

I had a couple of Holters, capturing the exercise-induced PACs, and they were perfectly benign.  They sure didn't FEEL benign, especially after hearing my heart was enlarged (oy, talk about a whole new worry for those blips!) but I couldn't argue with two Holters that caught my worst symptoms.  The evidence was right on the paper, and the evidence said I was fine.

I think our minds go to what we've read about the risks associated with PVCs and coronary artery disease with exercise.  PVCs during exercise in CAD patients can indicate a problem.  My doc said PACs aren't typically associated with any heart disease, including cardiomyopathy.  Which helps ease the mind some ;)