Dizzy During Workout | Women's Health

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feel dizzy
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Kristin J. Speaker, Ph.D., is an exercise physiologist at Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora, Colorado

There are three main causes of dizziness during and after exercise: a drop in your blood's sugar, pressure, or pH (blood gets slightly more acidic during high-intensity exercise, since your muscles release lactic acid as they work).

Related: The 'Fittest Woman on Earth' Shares Exactly What She Eats Every Day

To prevent a dip in blood sugar, try not eating anything for three hours pre-workout. Hear me out: Unless you've been fasting for 24 hours or just ran a marathon, your liver and muscles have plenty of stored glycogen (a bunch of sugar molecules joined together) to sustain your energy during exercise. Plus, eating triggers the release of the hormone insulin, which tells the cells in your body to absorb sugar out of your blood. Not only does exercise make your cells more sensitive to insulin, but it opens up additional "sugar" gates within muscle cells, which equals—you got it—a drop in blood sugar.

(Dance your way fit with High-Intensity Dance Cardio, the first-ever socanomics DVD!)

As for blood pressure, staying hydrated (drink at least 12 ounces of water during exercise) and warming up and cooling down for five minutes or more can help regulate levels. And if lactic acid buildup is the issue, the problem should go away over time as your bod adjusts to intense workouts. 

Tight on time? This quickie workout will help you squeeze in some exercise:

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WE'RE SERIOUS: ASK US ANYTHING! Send your questions to [email protected] or tweet them to @womenshealthmag with the hashtag #AskWH.

For more fitness advice, check out the April 2017 issue of Women's Health on newsstands now.

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