Why Am I Dizzy After Exercise?
Feeling dizzy after exercise can have a number of causes. It’s possible that you may have overexerted yourself. In some cases, it’s a cause for concern. It can indicate a problem with your cardiovascular system.
A comprehensive evaluation is the only way to get to the bottom of things. If you have any concerns about your heart health, it’s wise to seek professional guidance.
At Metropolitan Cardiovascular Consultants, board-certified cardiovascular physician Dr. Ayim Djamson and our caring team are devoted to helping you keep your heart as healthy as possible.
It’s perfectly reasonable to feel concerned regarding symptoms such as unusual fatigue, chest pain during exertion, or dizziness after exertion. If there is a problem with your cardiovascular system, rest assured that Dr. Djamson has the expertise to get to the root of the problem.
Cardiovascular system overview
Your heart has a big job to do. This mighty muscle is tasked with pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. The heart has two sides (left and right) and four chambers (top and bottom).
The left and right atria make up the two top chambers, and the left and right ventricles make up the bottom two chambers.
The right atrium receives oxygen-depleted blood from your body, and a valve opens to allow the blood to move down to the right ventricle, which pumps the blood to the lungs for a new supply of oxygen.
The blood arrives back to the heart in the left atrium, and it moves through a valve to the left ventricle, which pumps the blood back out to the rest of the body.
Your cardiovascular system is also made up of a network of blood vessels and valves. Blood vessels are tubes that carry blood back to the heart, while arteries carry blood away from the heart.
Valves act as gates that open and close. These gatekeepers keep blood flowing in the right direction so it doesn’t flow backward.
Together the cardiovascular system maintains blood flow to all parts of the body. A broad range of issues can occur that can trigger symptoms such as dizziness after exercise.
Heart valve disease
Valvular heart disease develops when one of the valves in the heart becomes damaged or diseased. Heart valve problems can arise from a leak or narrowing of the valve. Both situations lead to reduced blood flow and can cause shortness of breath and lightheadedness with or without exertion.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease builds when your arteries are unable to deliver enough blood to the heart. An accumulation of plaque is the most common culprit. Plaque accumulation causes arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow.
Chest pain, lightheadedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath with or without exertion are common warning signs.
Pericardial disease
The pericardium is a thin sac that separates your heart from surrounding tissues and structures, which protects the heart from friction. Inflammation of this sac is known as pericarditis.
In many cases, pericarditis resolves on its own. Sometimes treatment is necessary to prevent complications. Weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness and feeling faint can be signs of pericarditis.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the two upper chambers of the heart experience disorganized signals, causing the heart to beat irregularly. As with many other heart conditions, atrial fibrillation causes symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath and weakness.
These are just a few conditions that affect the cardiovascular system. If you have any reason to suspect that you may have an issue with your heart, see Dr. Djamson for a thorough evaluation. Left untreated, heart problems raise the risk of heart failure, stroke, and a heart attack.
The team at Metropolitan Cardiovascular Consultants is here to help you keep your heart and circulatory system healthy and strong. Call our office to schedule a visit for a comprehensive heart-health evaluation with Dr. Djamson.
We have three offices in Beltsville, Bowie, and Columbia, Maryland. You can also send a message to Dr. Djamson and his team via our website.