Dizziness
May 7, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Hendrik Bernau
Hello,
I thought I would ask a doctor who doesn't know me yet before I run back to my regular doctor, who might eventually think I'm crazy.
First of all, I should probably not hide the fact that I have been suffering from panic attacks for years, so I am in treatment, but I haven't had any significant problems with them for 2-3 years now.
However, I have noticed that my "anxiety level" increases when I have physical complaints, triggering inner restlessness.
For the past few days, I have been feeling slightly lightheaded with occasional mild dizziness. The feeling is best described as waking up after too little sleep. Usually, this feeling goes away after I shower, but this time it has not. It also resembles the feeling you have in your head after a strenuous run until you recover (commonly referred to as "no blood/oxygen in the head").
This feeling causes me significant nervousness and led to a brief panic attack last Saturday while waiting in line (a typical situation). I attribute this less to my actual anxiety disorder, and more to the physical sensation triggering the anxiety. (Weak legs - also for physical reasons - can trigger it for me.)
The feeling is accompanied by pain/tension in the back and (slightly) sore thigh muscles. My legs feel somewhat heavy. My neck also feels tense. I can alleviate the feeling by massaging my neck with my hand.
Since I haven't been doing any sports in the winter, I have started cycling training (mountain biking) in the last few weeks to lose some weight. I had relatively intense training sessions on the 1st and 3rd of May (1.5 h and 1 h).
Could this simply be a case of overdoing it with training - the head/neck position on a mountain bike (hunched over but head up) may not be ideal.
Best regards!
PS: I have a sedentary job and hardly do any sports otherwise (just started).
Dear questioner,
You are describing a typical anxiety disorder according to ICD-10, associated with recurring episodic panic attacks (F41.0). You also mention that you are already receiving treatment for this. Furthermore, you provide detailed information about your symptoms.
First of all: I will not further address your psychological symptoms, as you are already under medical treatment and should be adequately informed. If this is not the case and you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me again through the "follow-up" function, and I will gladly answer any additional questions.
You are absolutely right in stating that your symptoms (especially) are due to your panic attacks, as they present typical symptoms (see also, for example, Wikipedia).
Regarding your specific question: Mountain bike training is not the ideal model for building muscle mass or, as you mentioned, weight, especially for inexperienced athletes. The posture, as you already mentioned, can often be non-ergonomic and can lead to tension and cramps even in trained athletes.
Lighter, "rounded" training sessions such as a gradually increasing running program, in my opinion, represent a more sensible alternative because you can achieve two things in particular: muscle building in the thighs and improved condition.
As a counterbalance to the "sedentary" activity you described, this form of movement is certainly very beneficial, especially at the beginning of a physical activity. Start with small training sessions and gradually increase them.
In addition, you can consider (please consult with your treating physician) over-the-counter magnesium supplements available at the pharmacy (e.g. effervescent tablets). A balanced diet also plays an important role.
Finally, let me mention that I do not in any way believe that your primary care physician could consider you "crazy" due to your symptoms, as you mentioned. As already stated, such a "package deal" in connection with your medical history is not unusual. It is also highly commendable that you have decided to engage in sports and seem to be aware of your situation.
I hope I have been able to help you. If you have any further questions, I am always available to assist.
Wishing you good health.
Best regards,
Dr. med. - anonymized -
