Dizzy When Deadlifting

[deleted234011]

i'm deadlifting since march this year. Because of a lower back injury (not from deadlifting) i try to progress with little steps. I can feel my back is getting much stronger with less lower back complaints.

Last week i hit my first 220lbs, 8 reps.
What i noticed when going heavier, after each set when getting up i really get dizzy. So dizzy that i need to sit down or hold myself for a minute.

I always have a 1liter water bottle with me so i think i'm drinking enough. I also tried to eat some carbs before training.

 

[3063031]

Keeping yourself properly hydrated and eating something before deadlifting are both good. When you perform a deadlift, your body is going to tense up and this will cause your blood pressure to go up, sometimes quite high. After you complete the lift, your bp is going to drop and in some cases, your body will just not be able to compensate for this sudden change. The result is dizziness. Try to scale back on the amount of weight that you are lifting. Make sure you warm up before attempting a deadlift. Change your breathing pattern to ensure that you are getting a full, deep breath, before you bend over and grasp the weight and try not to hold your breath during the lift as that will increase your bp.

 

[HorseHung40's]

If you are becoming dizzy, speak to a doctor before doing that again. Exercise should never make you dizzy.

 

[delwyn]

Hi Guys, I'm new here and not sure if a proper introduction is in order?

However, I've been deadlifting for close to 10 years now.

Not that this means anything.

However, being dizzy or kinda sick (without throwing up) is a VERY normal reaction to any kind of demanding exercise, deadlifting especially.

I went to a cardiologist some time ago and it's all perfectly healthy with good blood pressure too.
So don't be worried.

You shouldn't faint though, I daresay

 

[twoton]

I get lightheaded frequently when deadlifting heavy. Figured it comes with the territory. Sometimes I have to hold on to something for a second. “Oops! Sorry lady! Wrong rack.”

 

[socalfreak]

Why Do I Feel Light Headed After Deadlifts? Solutions And Fixes!

 

[trevorstmcgoodbody]

I’ll get lightheaded sometimes when I squat but never dead lift

 

[GorillaHorse]

I agree that breathing is key.

You are probably holding your breath throughout the whole exercise. Find a way to breath more throughout the upstroke, hold, and downstroke. Some people take multiple breaths, some people take one, some people only exhale. Find what works for you.

 

[deleted234011]

Thanks for all the replies and tips. It only occurs when deadlifting, other exercises are fine. Will try some tips. Thank you.

 

[nudebodybuilder]

i'm deadlifting since march this year. Because of a lower back injury (not from deadlifting) i try to progress with little steps. I can feel my back is getting much stronger with less lower back complaints.

Last week i hit my first 220lbs, 8 reps.
What i noticed when going heavier, after each set when getting up i really get dizzy. So dizzy that i need to sit down or hold myself for a minute.

I always have a 1liter water bottle with me so i think i'm drinking enough. I also tried to eat some carbs before training.

Nokia88, are you holding your breath for a long period of time; in other words, after each rep, do you breathe during the lift?

 

[51arledge]

Agree that breathing is key.
I've been dead lifting for close to 18 years now. Dead lifts are the most demanding exercise in the catalogue. They involve the largest muscles in your body and I'm ALWAYS exhausted after a heavy dead lift session. GorillaHorse is correct: find what rhythm of breathing works for you, but above all else breath!
Before I started dead lifts and yoga, I had major back pain and arthritis with frequent trips to a chiropractor. Pain and arthritis meds are gone and I haven't seen a chiropractor about my back in many years.

 

[deleted1334580]

Agree that breathing is key.
I've been dead lifting for close to 18 years now. Dead lifts are the most demanding exercise in the catalogue. They involve the largest muscles in your body and I'm ALWAYS exhausted after a heavy dead lift session. GorillaHorse is correct: find what rhythm of breathing works for you, but above all else breath!
Before I started dead lifts and yoga, I had major back pain and arthritis with frequent trips to a chiropractor. Pain and arthritis meds are gone and I haven't seen a chiropractor about my back in many years.

I have so much trouble with form on this seemingly simple but so-hard-to-get-right exercise. I can't get past the arched back thing...... Practice makes perfect I guess.

 

[51arledge]

I have so much trouble with form on this seemingly simple but so-hard-to-get-right exercise. I can't get past the arched back thing...... Practice makes perfect I guess.

Yeah, form is more important on DL than in any other move because it's your spine you're fucking with if you get it wrong.

 

[AlteredEgo]

i'm deadlifting since march this year. Because of a lower back injury (not from deadlifting) i try to progress with little steps. I can feel my back is getting much stronger with less lower back complaints.

Last week i hit my first 220lbs, 8 reps.
What i noticed when going heavier, after each set when getting up i really get dizzy. So dizzy that i need to sit down or hold myself for a minute.

I always have a 1liter water bottle with me so i think i'm drinking enough. I also tried to eat some carbs before training.

This used to happen to me on a few different lifts. I found I had to play around with the timing of my medications (which I no longer have to take) and my nutrition and supplements, anf the timing of that. Most days I eat very low carbs, and no simple carbs. Heavy lifting? A whole day's carbs from steel cut oats soaked overnight and consumed raw, in a smoothie, that includes 1 scoop isopure zero carb and a tsp of creatine, and some aminos and caffeine. I don't need a pre-workout unless I lift heavy. I need a post-workout recovery meal or supplement every time, or I didn't work hard enough.

 

[WellMadeMan]

i'm deadlifting since march this year. Because of a lower back injury (not from deadlifting) i try to progress with little steps. I can feel my back is getting much stronger with less lower back complaints.

Last week i hit my first 220lbs, 8 reps.
What i noticed when going heavier, after each set when getting up i really get dizzy. So dizzy that i need to sit down or hold myself for a minute.

I always have a 1liter water bottle with me so i think i'm drinking enough. I also tried to eat some carbs before training.

Do you think it's possible you're picking up too fast? Could be a case of orthostatic hypotension. Maybe you could rey lifting a little slower through the motion (with proper form), and see if it helps. I could see how you would get dizzy if your body was having a hard time maintaining bloodflow to the brain during a deadlift.

 

[deleted234011]

Nokia88, are you holding your breath for a long period of time; in other words, after each rep, do you breathe during the lift?

Oh. I was ill last week so i didn't went to the gym to try some tips. I inhale before i lift the weight, exhale when almost standing straight and inhale again when going down for the next rep. The inhale part before the lift is to tighten up the core (something i red). It is always 1 big inhale and 1 big exhale.

I think my form is ok, i say i think I learned it by using the mirrors and less weight. Sometimes i think i use to much legdrive when i see others DL on Youtube. But it is probably how i'm build, it's different for everybody.

Do you think it's possible you're picking up too fast? Could be a case of orthostatic hypotension. Maybe you could rey lifting a little slower through the motion (with proper form), and see if it helps. I could see how you would get dizzy if your body was having a hard time maintaining bloodflow to the brain during a deadlift.

That's difficult to say hmm... i think not because i have/had a lower back issue, which went almost gone since deadlifting and don't want to lift the weight explosively. When i compare myself with the tutorials on Youtube i'm much slower...

 

[AlteredEgo]

Oh. I was ill last week so i didn't went to the gym to try some tips. I inhale before i lift the weight, exhale when almost standing straight and inhale again when going down for the next rep. The inhale part before the lift is to tighten up the core (something i red). It is always 1 big inhale and 1 big exhale.

I think my form is ok, i say i think I learned it by using the mirrors and less weight. Sometimes i think i use to much legdrive when i see others DL on Youtube. But it is probably how i'm build, it's different for everybody.



That's difficult to say hmm... i think not because i have/had a lower back issue, which went almost gone since deadlifting and don't want to lift the weight explosively. When i compare myself with the tutorials on Youtube i'm much slower...

You really shouldn't be holding your breath at any point. The inhalation beforehand is good. So is exhaling slowly as you lift the weight. Once you are standing, perhaps inhale again, then exhale slowly as you return to starting position.