Tight or sore muscles after doing a lot of situps is a normal reaction to exerting the abdominal muscles, but dizziness is not. In many cases, dizziness can be remedied by adjusting your eating habits or reducing the intensity of your exercise. If you experience dizziness consistently or in other situations, such as standing quickly from a sitting position, you may have a medical disorder. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing dizziness consistently while performing situps or when not exercising.
Overexertion
If you are not used to doing a lot of situps, or are not used to doing any form of exercise, your breathing may become rapid or shallow if you push beyond your limits. This can result in dizziness or the feeling that you are going to faint. If you find that your breathing is getting rapid or shallow, stop and rest or slow your pace. A good rule of thumb is if you can't hold a conversation while you are doing situps, you are overexerting yourself. Pace yourself and only do as many situps as you can without straining or losing proper form.
Unfocused Movement
Closing your eyes while doing situps or keeping them open without focusing on anything can lead to motion sickness, according to certified strength coach Stew Smith at Military.com. It's the same thing that happens to many people if they are on a boat in the ocean -- what's commonly referred to as "sea sickness." According to Smith, the first sign of motion sickness is dizziness and it is very common if you start your workout with situps. To avoid motion sickness, keep your eyes open and focus on a single spot on the ceiling when you are performing your situp routine.
Hypoglycemia
Glucose -- commonly referred to as "blood sugar" -- is the body's primary source of fuel. If it is too low, you cannot function properly and you may experience dizziness, nausea, a headache or trembling and lack of coordination -- a condition known as hypoglycemia. If you are doing situps first thing in the morning before eating breakfast, or are doing situps later in the day after skipping a meal, there is a good chance your are slightly hypoglycemic. Doing situps will exacerbate the hypoglycemia symptoms due to the increased energy demands. Eating a small meal at least two to four hours before doing situps will help avoid the dizziness caused by hypoglycemia. If you forgot to eat or simply skipped a meal, eat a small snack, such as an energy bar or piece of fruit, at least an hour before doing any situps.
Dehydration
Not having enough fluids in your body can lead to dehydration. Your blood needs water to provide volume. If the amount of water is lacking, your blood vessels dilate and your heart rate increases to make sure the blood flow is kept consistent throughout the body. Your blood pressure will also drop, which will lead to your brain not getting enough oxygen and this, in turn, leads to dizziness. To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water before, during and after any sort of exercise, including situps. Don't force yourself to drink water, however, because over-hydration can also cause problems.
If you find that adjusting your level of intensity and your fluid and food intake doesn't resolve the issue, consult a doctor. You may have high blood pressure or another underlying medical problem that is causing the dizziness. If you experience dizziness during your situp routine, stop and rest. Focus on deep breathing and lie down on your back. This will allow the blood to reach your brain faster. If the dizziness doesn't go away after 30 minutes or is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, seek immediate medical attention.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Dizziness; Mayo Clinic staff; July 2010
- Columbia University Health Services; Dizzy After Exercise; January 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Dehydration; Mayo Clinic staff; January 2011
- American Heart Association: Target Heart Rates
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Hypoglycemia; February 2010
