Swelling underneath the eyes after you exercise can occur suddenly or develop gradually throughout your workout. Swelling can be caused by several disorders and environmental conditions. Because symptoms can be severe, it is important to understand why swelling can occur beneath the eyes after exercise and how you can treat it.
Symptoms
Swelling beneath the eyes following your exercise routine can vary from mild to extreme. Besides the eyes, you can also experience swelling in the tongue, face and hands. Swelling can be accompanied by other symptoms such as head pain, nausea, runny nose, redness or flushing of the face and body, stomach cramps, pain behind the eyes, tenderness around the eyes, congestion, vision problems, hives, breathing complications and severe itching.
Causes
Blood can pool in your body if you abruptly stop exercising, especially with intense exercise, resulting in swelling in various parts of your body, including underneath your eyes. Swelling can also be due to an exercise-induced allergic reaction that can occur spontaneously or if you consume an allergen prior to your workout. Inhaling airborne allergens like dander, pollen and mold while you exercise can also trigger eye swelling. Some conditions such as optic neuritis can also exacerbate symptoms during exercise.
Treatments
Cool down gradually -- over about a 10-minute period -- with a lighter activity such as walking following your exercise routine. This will keep your blood circulating while allowing your heart rate to gradually decrease. Take an antihistamine medication if you suspect airborne allergies or an exercise-induced allergic reaction. Conditions such as optic neuritis can typically heal without treatment; however, a doctor can speed the process with a corticosteroid injection.
Warnings
Although eye swelling following exercise is not typically life-threatening, you must seek medical attention if symptoms are chronic, severe or you have trouble breathing. If you are experiencing a serious allergic reaction, you may require an emergency epinephrine shot to quickly reduce symptoms. Left untreated, exercise-related allergies can lead to further complications such as asthma and anaphylaxis, a reaction that causes an abrupt drop in blood pressure and can even stop your heart or breathing.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Allergies; January 28, 2011
- Natural Eye Care: Optic Neuritis
- "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II"; Prevention Magazine Editors; 2003
- FamilyDoctor.org; Exercise-induced Urticaria (Hives); December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Anaphylaxis; September 3, 2010
