Training & Nutrition - seeing stars when I stand up

I just started training for an upcoming sprint tri a couple weeks ago. I've been commuting on a bike for about a year and been swimming for about a year and half. My weak point is the running, so I've been trying to work on that. I just got fitted and bought a proper pair of running shoes and generally run 2-3 miles every other day and swim about a mile on the days that I don't run, along with commuting on my bike everyday 18 miles per day. On days that I run I've noticed that a couple hours afterwards I'll be sitting down and when I get up I get light headed and see stars. I eat a pretty well balanced nutritious diet, low fat, lots of fruits, veggies, carbs, and protein so I'm confused why I feel like this. Could this all be solved by switching from water to some sort of electrolyte replenishing drink and if so, what brand does everyone recommend?

Low blood pressure. Orthostatic hypotension, in this case.

Can be caused by dehydration - with too little water, the blood volume decreases, and as a result, the body becomes less able to handle sudden changes in blood pressure.

Since you get it after you've run, it's very likely to be caused by dehydration. Rehydrate with plain water.

that happens to me but im epileptic and all jacked up on anti convulsants! scary huh?


ps-i drink cytomax after trying a bunch of other drinks. pleasant, low sugar content, and an assortment of flavors.

Low blood pressure. Orthostatic hypotension, in this case.



+1

There are many causes but dehydration is a major factor.

your you can be lazy and just not stand up!

http://www.cinderzelda.com/czpics/potato2.jpg

I just started training for an upcoming sprint tri a couple weeks ago. I've been commuting on a bike for about a year and been swimming for about a year and half. My weak point is the running, so I've been trying to work on that. I just got fitted and bought a proper pair of running shoes and generally run 2-3 miles every other day and swim about a mile on the days that I don't run, along with commuting on my bike everyday 18 miles per day. On days that I run I've noticed that a couple hours afterwards I'll be sitting down and when I get up I get light headed and see stars. I eat a pretty well balanced nutritious diet, low fat, lots of fruits, veggies, carbs, and protein so I'm confused why I feel like this. Could this all be solved by switching from water to some sort of electrolyte replenishing drink and if so, what brand does everyone recommend?

Happens to me (and a pro ticket triathlete I work with) even when I'm well hydrated. For some people when they're well trained, their autonomic system doesn't react quickly enough to raise their blood pressure, and that happens.

. . . For some people when they're well trained, their autonomic system doesn't react quickly enough to raise their blood pressure, and that happens.

Well I'll be dipped!!! I'm an old cyclist (runner and hiker) and for decades noticed the "stars" phenom, but only when I'm on the high point of a fitness cycle. WOW, thanks for 'splaining that. It seems perverse but makes sense. I'm not insane after all. Well, not on that account anyway. Thanks Eric'!

I get this a lot - just standing up too quickly after stretching on the floor can make me see spots. It I told my doctor about it and I had to check my pulse and blood pressure daily for a while at those testing things you find near the pharmacy in the grocery store. It's not a perfect test, but it gives you some idea of what normal is for you. The doctor looked at the numbers and said, "You must exercise a lot." He said it was nothing to worry about - unless I actually blacked out. Then it can be serious.

I get this a lot as well... I think it's just low blood pressure. But the dehydration is probably a good explanation.

I would not mind seeing stars. Today we did a 5000 foot climb. It was not so bad , until we got to the summit. The final 3 miles was about an 8% grade. After about 12 miles I had had enough when my legs started crampinb. I stopped, closed my eyes because the sweat was pouring in due to the heat. It was not stars I saw; I'd thought I saw light at the end of the tunnel. Probably just an optical thing when one closes their eyes...Wish I had worn my heart rate monitor....After the salt was rinsed from my eyes, I opened them and finished the last three miles.

I would say check with your doctor just to be safe that it isn't something else.

Don't listen to the garbage that everyone's telling you about not eating healthy. It's simply that you don't have enough blood in your head.

Think about it. You're sitting down, relaxed, your heart is beating slower since you're relaxed. All of a sudden you jump up quick. Blood has to now travel vertical towards your head and faster since you just jumped up, and it doesn't happen quick. Your brain doesn't have enough blood, so you feel light headed and your vision shorts out for a few seconds. Your heart bumps up the heart beat, blood now travels to your brain, and after a few seconds you're back to normal.

If anything it shows that you're such in shape that you can jump up so quick that your heart can't keep up.

It's no big deal, it happens to everyone if they jump up quick, don't worry about a thing. Seriously.

This happens to me every time I get up in the morning and/or every time I've been lying down for any length of time. When I get up, I have to sit on the edge of the bed for about 10 seconds before I do anything or else I'll get a little light-headed. I've always wanted to ask my doctor about it, but I don't see him very often so I always forget about it.

As far as where it comes from, both the hydration and the autonomic system theory sound plausible.

Happens to me (and a pro ticket triathlete I work with) even when I'm well hydrated. For some people when they're well trained, their autonomic system doesn't react quickly enough to raise their blood pressure, and that happens.

This happens to me as well, especially after commuting on my bike. I think it's low blood pressure and blood pooling, since I discovered that my blood pressure is actually lower than normal (108/67 instead of 120/70).

Try not standing up too fast.

This happens to me every time I get up in the morning and/or every time I've been lying down for any length of time. When I get up, I have to sit on the edge of the bed for about 10 seconds before I do anything or else I'll get a little light-headed. I've always wanted to ask my doctor about it, but I don't see him very often so I always forget about it.

As far as where it comes from, both the hydration and the autonomic system theory sound plausible.

Think about it. You're sitting down, relaxed, your heart is beating slower since you're relaxed. All of a sudden you jump up quick. Blood has to now travel vertical towards your head and faster since you just jumped up, and it doesn't happen quick. Your brain doesn't have enough blood, so you feel light headed and your vision shorts out for a few seconds. Your heart bumps up the heart beat, blood now travels to your brain, and after a few seconds you're back to normal.