HELP- running dizziness

How old are you?

My gut tells me that it may be dehydration, but you might want to give some thought to having your heart checked out. Dizziness is often a symptom of cardiac issues. I wouldn't stress about it, but if it doesn't go away soon, I'd have it checked out.

When I get dizzy, I usually sit down for a little while and it goes away.

I'm 23. I think I'm going to have some blood testing done today just to make sure there aren't any imbalances.

I hope it's nothing more serious, like something heart related. My only concern is that I raced Saturday and then have run easy the past three days. I would think that I would have had time to get in plenty of fluids since then.

The problem is hard to describe but I feel light headed even when not running. I just feel like I'm operating at 75% and I know how I felt before the race on Saturday morning and I've felt completely different running the last three days.

One thing to note if you have your heart checked out - it won't be a quick answer. I am going through the process right now. It started off with an EKG back in January as part of my normal annual physical. The test results showed left ventricular hypertrophy. Normal for well trained athletes, but I decided to look into it further, so they did an echocardiogram. That didn't happen until February. It confirmed (in Mach) that the left ventricle issue was standard operating procedure for someone who trains the way most competitive runners do, but it also showed dilation of the right ventricle. Up to that point, I was dealing with my general practitioner, but I then went to cardiologist to get his opinion since RV dilation is well-vetted in the available resources. He couldn't explain it, so he order a stress test and a cardiac MRI. The stress test was in mid March (no issues shown there) and the MRI was in late March. I am going to see cardiologist tomorrow to discuss MRI results. My sense is that he will tell me the MRI confirms normal heart function, but massive dilation and he won't be able to explain the cause of that. I have talked to some other medical professionals who are endurance athletes and they suspect that he isn't experienced with well trained endurance athletes and does not realize that the RV dilation is normal for well trained endurance athletes. My guess is that I am going to have to have the results compared against a database that the Mayo Clinic keeps on elite athletes, and that will take another month at least.

Sorry for the ramble, but I wanted to highlight what you might have to deal with to fully work through the potential issue and to note that this will be a 4 or 5 month process, even if nothing turns out to be wrong, so you may not get a quick answer before your marathon.

I definitely appreciate all of that information, thanks for sharing your experience. It's helpful to know what the process might look like

If you think it could be heart-related, I think you ought to get it checked out. I am not trying to downplay anyone else's answers.

But... do you have particularly heavy pollen in your area? Pollen makes me feel similar to this, especially when I am putting in heard efforts. After a long run this past weekend, I felt sick and generally "off" for a day or two. It just slays me in all kinds of ways that are not typical "allergic" reactions like congestion and itchy eyes.

Just something to think about...

Also, are you taking any medications at all, OTC or otherwise?

i'm guessing you (1) haven't had enough food in the last week or so. your tank is empty. fill it. eat a lot or (2) you put yourself into a mild dehydration. Was your pee very yellow for a few days?don't just drink water. drink Gatorade. coconut water, juice. smoothies etcdid you run the 10-miler on a warmish/sunny day? sounds like blood sugar. sometimes after a race in a week where i did a lot of training i need to consciously eat more - and i mean eat an extra meal or two to get the equilibrium back.as a hypoglycemic dude with a diabetic sister, it sounds like blood sugar levels.just water (fluids) won't help, and might actually hurt you by flushing out nutrients

HELP- running dizziness wrote:

I'm 23. I think I'm going to have some blood testing done today just to make sure there aren't any imbalances.

I hope it's nothing more serious, like something heart related. My only concern is that I raced Saturday and then have run easy the past three days. I would think that I would have had time to get in plenty of fluids since then.

The problem is hard to describe but I feel light headed even when not running. I just feel like I'm operating at 75% and I know how I felt before the race on Saturday morning and I've felt completely different running the last three days.

This happens to me sometimes after a really tough race and then goes away. I think it's dehydration or some kind of electrolyte imbalance in the days following a hard effort. The first time it happened I PRd in a hot July 5k and then felt major dizziness during an easy 7 miler the next day - enough that I had to stop and collect myself. The other time it happened was a day after a half marathon, again really hot conditions. Chug a couple 32oz gatorades and see if it helps.

Some really good advice regarding allergies, allergy meds, blood sugar and electrolytes. I would definitely try to eliminate those as causes of your dizziness first.

I'd rather think is a slight anemia. Liver is a good source of iron.

Spinach with eggs is a great recipe for recovery too.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I'll add that it was a little warmer than it has been for the 10 mile race last Saturday- low 60s where it's been in the 40s/50s mostly. There was little to no shade during the race and I was definitely spent after it. I did a 4 mile cooldown to get in some extra mileage and I could feel my body giving out when I stopped. I've been logging miles in the 70ish range since January, ran a half in March and was building towards a spring full.

I live in Eugene so I know allergies are a good suggestion given the pollen count but I have never had allergies before and this did not happen at the same time last year.

I'm pretty good about nutrition and hydration. My weight hasn't moved and I've been hydrating well. I take iron and vitamin C, other than that nothing OTC.

I'm just concerned because it has lingered for three days now. I feel almost like I'm in a constant light headed state even when not running. I just feel very different from say April 8th (the day before the race) both when running and when doing anything else. It's hard to explain and it's certainly made easy miles feel more difficult.

I think I touched on most ideas put out there- I appreciate everyone chiming in. I had some blood testing done today so I can mark off some possibilities soon. If that all comes back normal, I think a cardiologist is the next move and I have a referral to one already.

Bump.

Quick update- the lightheaded feeling has been steady last week and this week.

I was cleared by a cardiologist and ENT doctor. I did an EKG, echocardiogram, stress test, and was tested for vertigo.

My iron levels are good. As is my vitamin d, thyroid, electrolytes, and everything else that would be tested on a normal blood test. I also took a celiac test and that was good as well.

The only thing that came up is that my RBC count was just below the low end of the range and that I have had mono in the past- I didn't actually know/realize at the time apparently as I carry the strand.

Any other ideas from folks? By all counts, I am healthy but I feel very different from before that 10 mile race on April 9th. I feel lightheaded every time I go out running and even sometimes during the day. I have tried taking an over the counter non drowsy allergy med and that hasn't produced anything different.

Any feedback would be helpful.