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Reasons You May Experience Vertigo After a Workout

reasons-you-may-experience-vertigo-after-a-workout Exercise is often the solution to many health problems. However, what if a brisk run, a morning at the gym, or some other vigorous activity seems to bring on a case of vertigo? We’re going to look at some of the triggers that may end up exacerbated if you exercise without proper caution.  Remember always to discuss your exercise routine with a physician to make sure you are not doing something beyond your ability, but don’t stop working out because exercise is essential to your overall health. We will also consider a natural way to get help for your vertigo. But before we get to that, here are some of the reasons you may be experiencing vertigo during or after exercise. 

#1 You Haven’t Had Enough Water  

When you work out really hard, you sweat. That takes moisture and minerals out of the body. If you haven’t been replacing your fluids by drinking water, you may have become dehydrated. Vertigo is an early symptom of dehydration. This may be the one time that it is worth the high sugar content to have a sports drink because you need to replace your fluids and get some electrolytes quickly. However, it is better just to drink enough water and hydrate properly in the first place. 

#2 You Overexerted Yourself 

The basic definition of overexertion is that you pushed yourself physically either too hard or for too long. Vertigo is just one of many signs of overexertion. You may also get short of breath, lightheaded, or even vomit.  Another reason that overexertion may lead to vertigo is that a common underlying cause of vertigo is a migraine. When a migraine strikes, overexertion can make it worse. It can also be the trigger for a migraine.  So if you are also getting symptoms of migraines following your exercise routine, you may need to consider the possibility that you have this condition. You may also need to change your workout to something with a little less impact. 

#3 You Spent Too Long on an Exercise Machine 

Vertigo can happen when your body engages in a certain motion repetitively over a period of time. For example, if you spend a day on a boat and still feel like you are rocking when you get back to dry land, that false sensation of movement is a form of vertigo. If you just spent an hour on a treadmill, elliptical machine, or performing some other form of continual motion exercise, your body may just not have figured out that you’ve stopped yet. You can either avoid that type of machine or spend less time on it while you work to identify and correct the source of your vertigo. 

#4 Your Blood Sugar Dropped

When you are working out, your body uses sugar as the energy for your muscles. If you haven’t eaten for a while, there may not be much glucose for your body to draw on. As blood sugar levels drop, you can begin to experience the symptoms of hypoglycemia. These symptoms include fatigue, hunger, irritability, shakiness, and vertigo. 

#5 Your Blood Pressure Dropped

Vigorous activity can cause your blood pressure to drop for about an hour after you exercise. When blood pressure gets too low it can affect vision, cause nausea and fatigue, and it may also lead to vertigo. Be particularly careful if you have heart problems, are pregnant, or are taking medications that reduce blood pressure. 

#6 Your Oxygen Levels Dropped

If you have ever watched an exercise video or taken a class, the instructor has probably emphasized proper breathing. This is because they do not want your oxygen levels to get low. If you breath shallow and fast, your body won’t have enough oxygen from your activity. Before long, you may find that you are lightheaded or experiencing vertigo. 

#7 You Have a Heart Arrhythmia 

That is just a fancy way to say that your heart is beating abnormally. There are many conditions that can cause your heart to do this. Even stress can affect the pattern of your heartbeat. While most cases are not severe, you may want to consult a physician to make sure you don’t have a more significant issue.  How can you identify a heart arrhythmia? In many cases, there are no symptoms. You will only find out about this sort of problem if you have an annual physical. On the other hand, an arrhythmia could cause you to get lightheaded, sweat, grow short of breath, or even faint. Vertigo is also a symptom.

What Exercises are Safe or Okay for Someone with Vertigo?

If you struggle with the spinning sensations of vertigo, you might feel like simple daily activities are a significant challenge. However, don't despair. There are exercises specifically designed to help you regain control and reduce the impact of vertigo on your life. Find out more about these and learn how they can help you work around your situation:

#1. Tai Chi

It’s a low-impact, gentle exercise that improves balance, coordination, and mindfulness. The slow, flowing movements of Tai Chi are perfect for people with vertigo, as they can help improve their body's sense of balance and reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes.

#2. Yoga

Certain yoga poses can also help improve balance and stability, reducing the frequency and intensity of vertigo episodes. Poses like the Tree Pose, Warrior III Pose, and the Half Moon Pose can help improve balance and increase strength in the legs, core, and other muscles.

#3. Walking

Walking is an excellent exercise that improves cardiovascular health and overall balance. Regular walking can also help improve the body's sense of balance, which can help reduce the frequency of vertigo episodes.

#4. Cycling

Cycling whether done stationary or outdoors, is an excellent exercise that helps improve balance, leg strength, and overall fitness. Cycling is also a low-impact exercise, which makes it an excellent choice for people with vertigo.

#5. Stair Stepping

Using a stair stepper machine can help improve leg strength and overall balance, which can help reduce the frequency of vertigo episodes.

#6. Pilates

Pilates is an exercise that focuses on core strength, posture, and body awareness. Practicing Pilates can help improve overall strength and balance, which can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes.

#7. Water aerobics

This is another low-impact exercise that is excellent for people with vertigo. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on the joints, making it easier to move around. Water aerobics can also help improve balance and coordination.

#8. Neck stretching

Stretching the neck can help relieve tension and reduce the frequency of vertigo episodes. Neck stretches like the Neck Roll and the Seated Clasping Neck Stretch can help reduce tension and increase flexibility in the neck muscles.

#9. Eye exercises

Certain eye exercises can help improve coordination and reduce dizziness. The Eye Tracking Exercise and the Near-Far Focus Exercise can help improve the body's sense of balance and reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes.

#10. Balance training

Balance training, such as practicing standing on one leg or on an unstable surface like a balance board, can help improve balance and coordination. Practicing these exercises can help the body's sense of balance, reducing the frequency of vertigo episodes.

Looking at the Vertigo Research

Indeed, vertigo can turn your world upside down. The dizziness and imbalance make even basic routines feel like major obstacles. The search for effective treatments can leave you feeling frustrated and lost. That's why staying informed about current vertigo research is so important – it unlocks the potential for new solutions and empowers you to take control of your health. It also helps you retrace your steps and determine how specific remedies like Upper Cervical Chiropractic can help.

Study #1: Dizziness Often Stems from Vestibular Dysfunction

Dizziness originates in the vestibular organs of the inner ear comprised of fluid-filled canals which sense movement of the head by tiny hairs contained within. The brain receives signals from the inner ear. When a person spins about quickly, the fluid continues to move, giving the brain the indication the head is still in motion. However, ballet dancers can do full body spins and not feel the dizziness others perceive. How is this possible? A team of researchers studied 29 female dancers and 20 female rowers of similar age and fitness levels. The study revealed that eye reflexes and the perception of spinning were shorter in duration for the dancers than the rowers. A scan by an MRI showed there were differences in the cerebellum (processing input) and the cerebral cortex (perceiving dizziness). The conclusion of the study was that by understanding how the brain works and the underlying vestibular function, patients with chronic vestibular disorders – such as dizziness – may be able to receive better help.

Study #2: Correlation between vertigo onset and head and neck trauma

There were 60 vertigo patients participating in this study and 56 of them remembered having some type of head or neck injury prior to their vertigo symptoms. The cause of the injuries varied from a minor slip and fall to a critical car accident. Some of the participants had suffered from symptoms up to 27 years and stated that they had “tried everything” to get relief, including neck exercises, medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, and so on. After a chiropractic examination, it was discovered that all 60 patients had an upper cervical misalignment, also called subluxation.  A series of upper cervical chiropractic adjustments followed for all 60 patients. In the end, the outcomes were very positive. In fact, all 60 patients said they experienced either an improvement of symptoms or complete reversal of their condition. Of the 60 patients, 48 of them had no sign of vertigo any longer.  The remaining 12 still had measurable improvement in the severity and/or frequency of their vertigo episodes.

Study #2: Meniere's Disease Also Shares a Connection with Atlas Misalignment

This study focused on 139 patients with Meniere’s disease, which is a condition accompanied by a number of symptoms including debilitating vertigo attacks, tinnitus, hearing loss, and the feeling of fullness in the ear. Meniere’s in a common cause of severe vertigo. Each patient was examined and treated by an upper cervical chiropractor for any atlas misalignments that could be interfering with the necessary brain-body communication. After six weeks of care, vertigo and the amount of nausea and vomiting that accompanied it decreased substantially. The success rate was astounding, at 98% with 136 of the 139 patients experiencing drastic improvement. These results impacted their all-around quality of life, returning to them the ability to drive a car, perform at work, even sustain a positive marriage. One interesting observation from the study was that it took an average of 15 years from the time of the head trauma before the onset of vertigo and other Meniere's disease symptoms.

Study #3: Whiplash History is a Risk Factor of Meniere's Disease

Researchers hypothesized that the origin of vertigo or Meniere’s disease was a result of a whiplash injury to the neck, causing a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. Each patient rated the severity of their vertigo on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being symptom-free and 10 being the worst imaginable. Prior to the upper cervical adjustments, the average rating for vertigo severity was 8.5.  For clarification, a rating of 5 or above, meant that the person was unable to perform basic functions such as socializing, driving a car, or going to work. After a six-week period of care, the 8.5 average dropped to 3.  At the end of the study, this average was nearly gone entirely at a rating of 0.8. The improvements provided by upper cervical chiropractic care was life changing for 291 of the 300 patients. As you can see, a growing body of evidence is telling us that upper cervical chiropractic care can be a revolutionary approach for people whose normal lives are interrupted by crippling vertigo attacks. Upper cervical chiropractors understand the issues that combine to cause vertigo conditions.  If an upper cervical misalignment is the underlying cause of the problem, then this form of care is the beginning of your return to normal function.  Contact us for a complimentary consultation and learn more about how we can help.

Take the First Step Towards Lasting Vertigo Relief: Consult with an Upper Cervical Doctor

Most of the vertigo causes noted above can be taken care of by taking a break and drinking some water. However, some people get vertigo because of a misalignment in the top two bones of the neck. When this is the case, bouts of vertigo can recur frequently. How can you correct such a misalignment in a safe and gentle way? Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctor focus on the C1 and C2 vertebrae with precise and gentle adjustments. This has helped many vertigo patients in case studies to overcome problems with vertigo. You are a particularly good candidate for care if you have a history of head or neck trauma. Locate a practitioner in your area and schedule a consultation to learn if this is the right natural alternative for you. It may be your first step in finally breaking free from recurring episodes of vertigo.

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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.

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