Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 16:19:54 EST
From: Mcsiff@aol.com
Subject: Strength_List: SQUATS & PASSING OUT

On 2/20/00, "butch schovanec" <sbschovanec@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

<<  On the fourth single I heard a small pop inside my head and then it felt
like my head was going to explode.  It started in the back and worked its way
forward.  All I
remember was racking the weight and falling down.  My partner said I was out
for about five minutes.  I blew it off thinking no big deal.  On Friday I was
straining and the same thing happened again.  Kind of freaked me out a
little.  So what I am saying is I need some advice.  I live in a state that
has lots of pencil neck geeks for doctors.  The first thing he will say is to
stop lifting and to find another sport. >>

***Not all doctors are useless.  Most of them would probably remark that any
loss of consciousness under the circumstances that you describe could be
related to the damage of blood vessels in the head.  They would be
particularly concerned if a repetition of this occurred, as it in fact did.

This type of blacking out can also be the result of sudden release of breath
and a precipitous drop in blood pressure and loss of oxygen-carrying blood to
the brain.  So, if you make a habit of filling your lungs as much as you can,
straining against all of this held air and taking many seconds to complete a
lift or set in this way, then suddenly exhale, you could easily faint.

That small popping sound in your head, however, is not a normal accompaniment
of this use of the Valsalva (breath-holding) manoeuvre, since it might
indicate some damage to blood vessels in the brain, ear or eyes. It would be
a good idea to visit a doctor, since serious injury to the vessels in the
brain can cause sudden stroke or death.  I am not suggesting this is the
case, nor should this suggestion alarm you, but it is better to be safe than
sorry.

If you have family history of heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure,
you need to be especially careful of anything that can increase the risks of
cardiac or other circulatory diseases.

In the meantime (and henceforth) take great care not to fill your lungs
markedly with air and hold your breath forcibly under very heavy loads.  You
can try to minimise blood pressure rise by keeping your mouth open and
humming or grunting the air out in small doses (too much at a time will
reduce support for your trunk by the act of breath holding).

Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
mcsiff@aol.com