Ryan Lochte fall and concussion from getting out of bed too fast: more common among fit people?

I'm a pretty mediocre athlete but have good aerobic capacity and a low resting heart rate (mid-40s). Especially if I'm a little dehydrated, if I've been sitting for a while and stand up suddenly I'll get tunnel vision. I could see this happening pretty frequently for world-class endurance athletes who probably have super low resting heart rates and blood pressure.

I'm the fittest I've been in years at 27, and this has been happening to me a lot recently. I'd believe it.

Same experience here.

I've never passed out. But the fitter I am, the woozier I get standing up too fast.

I'd say Lochte's story is plausible.

This happens to me. I notice that it does seem more frequent when I am more fit, and it's definitely more frequent when I am somewhat dehydrated. I thought that this was related to me being taller than most people, but perhaps my height doesn't have much to do with it.

I think height is definitely a factor. I'm 6'1". When you're resting and pulse is low, and then you stand up, all of a sudden a bunch of blood flows down into your legs and until your pulse catches up your brain is oxygen-starved. The taller you are, the more work your heart needs to do to counteract the effect.

Once in college while I was in sub 27 8k shape. I played super smash bros with my legs locked on a foot stool for a little over an hour. Stood up to check my phone and blinked. next thing I knew I was on the ground. and could hear my friends(still playing the game) saying I think our buddy just died over there.

There is a test for this: The Tilt Table test. It's very simple in concept. I took it and I remember feeling very uncomfortable, but I passed. On the other hand, I know someone who took it and he claims he passed out, and they almost had to get out the paddles to revive him.

don't you have to have a brain to get a concussion?

Mort McMurray wrote:

This happens to me. I notice that it does seem more frequent when I am more fit, and it's definitely more frequent when I am somewhat dehydrated. I thought that this was related to me being taller than most people, but perhaps my height doesn't have much to do with it.

100% height is a factor. I am 6'2" and I have definitely noticed it regardless of fitness. Also have a HR in the low to mid 40s though I am right now the most aerobically fit ive been (at least feels that way) and I haven't noticed it as much. I think hydration also plays a role as I am better hydrated now then I used to be.

i ride bikes wrote:

100% height is a factor. I am 6'2" and I have definitely noticed it regardless of fitness. Also have a HR in the low to mid 40s though I am right now the most aerobically fit ive been (at least feels that way) and I haven't noticed it as much. I think hydration also plays a role as I am better hydrated now then I used to be.

I'm 5'9" and it happens to me. I think it has to do more with hydration, nothing with height or fitness. Heck, it happens to my grandpa. He is in his 80's, stood up after sitting on the couch for a long time, got dizzy and fell and broke his cheek bone. The doctor said dehydration can make that happen more often. As an athlete, you're working out a lot and it's easy to get dehydrated. Lochte probably got a bit more dehydrated than normal one day and got dizzy and fell over.

jamin wrote:

I'm wondering because I feel like when I get fitter I get more lightheaded when I stand up quickly. Could also have something to do with getting older.

(5:06 of below video)

https://youtu.be/hEMyZ_eMGXI?t=306

This is fairly common for people who have low, or low end of normal, blood pressure. I'd guess most endurance athletes fall on the low end of heart rate and blood pressure. My blood pressure falls on the low end of normal and I feel lightheaded fairly often if I stand up too fast.

I have noticed this. When I am highly fit I am more likely to get lightheaded when standing and pass out when getting out of bed. However, I found a fix. I started using a Goya seasoning which is loaded with sodium. I dump it on my lunch every day and the issue has been curtailed.

Also another person who experiences this and yes it's definitely more noticeable after a workout or long run day where I'm more likely to be dehydrated. My mother isn't an endurance athlete but she also experiences it if she gets dehydrated...our family seems to run on the low end of normal for blood pressure. I'm 6'0" and she's 5'8" so we're also both above average for height. I believe the term is pseudosyncope if anyone wants to read more about it.

more common among clumsy people?

Fixed it for ya, you are welcome.

This happened to me 1 time in my life and it was right after a significant increase in fitness - I pr'd in the 1600 in high school ... went from 4:19 to 4:11 and the next week, stood up from my desk, made it like 2 steps, lost my vision and fell to the ground. crazy experience

It happen to me too but also it's ... Ryan Lochte. If you have air in your head then yes, you are light headed.

Seriously mate? wrote:

Also another person who experiences this and yes it's definitely more noticeable after a workout or long run day where I'm more likely to be dehydrated. My mother isn't an endurance athlete but she also experiences it if she gets dehydrated...our family seems to run on the low end of normal for blood pressure. I'm 6'0" and she's 5'8" so we're also both above average for height. I believe the term is pseudosyncope if anyone wants to read more about it.

dehydration is well documented at causing this.

i have it, too, and it seems to go in phases. Resting HR of 37, just got it tested.

A couple of things to consider. I talked to a doc and he suggested doing cool downs to transition after a run. I found that just walking around helps.

You might find that compression sleeves also help, esp, for master age athletes.

Lastly, i found that when i was doing beet root powder and the amino acid L-citrulline, both of which can lower blood pressure, i had it really bad. I stopped taking them for that reason.