Exercise doesn't usually cause dizziness. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded during or after a workout, you should get your symptoms checked out by a physician. Although it's likely that the dizziness represents a minor, easily fixed problem like dehydration, you might also be suffering from something more serious that warrants medical attention. Don't ignore dizziness that seems to stem from exercise.
Dehydration and Hunger
If you're working out hard and eating little, potentially in an effort to lose weight quickly, you might experience dizziness during or after your workouts, according to Columbia University. In this case, there's a simple solution: make sure you eat enough to support your strenuous workouts. Consider consuming a small snack an hour or so before you work out. Dehydration also can cause dizziness on occasion, so make sure you drink 16 oz. of water or sports drink about two hours before your workout.
Vertigo
If you're fairly new to exercising or if you have a history of prior dizzy spells, it's possible that vertigo is causing your dizziness during or after your workouts, according to the University of California, Irvine. Vertigo has many potential underlying causes and sometimes can be triggered by physical activity. To determine if vertigo causes your exercise-related dizziness, you'll need to see a physician who specializes in inner ear disorders.
Heart Disease
There's one potential cause for exercise-related dizziness that you should never ignore: heart disease. People with pre-existing heart disease can sometimes feel dizzy if they push themselves too hard during a workout, according to The Ohio State University Medical Center. If you've just recently started working out and you haven't been screened for heart disease --- or if you know you're at risk --- you should see your physician to discuss your workout routine and ways to make it safer for you.
Heat Exhaustion
If you're exercising in hot, humid weather, heat exhaustion potentially can cause your dizziness, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If this is the case, you also can experience heavy sweating, headache, fatigue and thirst, and your skin can get pale and clammy. If you have these symptoms while you're exercising, stop immediately and get into a cool place. Drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate. If the symptoms persist or worsen to the point where you're vomiting or fainting, seek emergency medical help.
