Weird weight lifting reaction

[JMD]

Hi,

This may sound weird, but I have noticed whenever I lift a heavier weight than normal my vision goes blurry. I do utilize machines and free weights.

It is ususally just 10-12lbs over what I normally do.

(Disclaimer) I am NO bodybuilder, but I do like to do a few machines/reps 4 times a week on different body parts. This helps my fibromyalgia and stress level with my cardio and yoga practice. The blurriness ususally occurs weight upper body work-outs.

Thanks:)
JMD

[dhammala]

Um, that doesn't sound healthy to me! Most gyms have a staff of personal trainers that perhaps you could talk to and see what they have to say about it. I would even call up my trusted doctor and see what they have to say...

My GoogleFu turned up this for you:

From MensHealth
Weightlifting leaves my vision blurry. Should I be worried?
Yes, this needs to be checked out by your doctor. Blurred vision after physical activity, especially the breath-holding manoeuvre that is typical during heavy weightlifting, might be related to abnormally high blood pressure, raised pressure within the eye (glaucoma) or even a problem related to the retina or blood vessels supplying the retina. This might even be an unusual variation of an exercise-induced migraine. You`ll probably need an ophthalmological evaluation of the structures at the back of the eye.

From Fitness Buddies
...
Headache
Dizziness
Warm, flushed skin
Thirst
Blurry vision
Muscle weakness
...
These are warning signs that you're not getting enough water.

[JMD]

THANKS FOR THE INFO!! TOTALLY HELPFUL!! (although I am a 34 yr old petite female??

I actually have very low blood pressure--so maybe that is it. I rarely get headaches.?? I will look into it further (and try not to get worried). Thanks...

[Kris]

Hi JMD,

I am not an ophthalmologist, but I do know that intense exercise (especially weightlifting) can cause the pressure in your eye to increase, which momentarily results in less blood flow to your optic nerve and, in turn, blurred vision. Please note that increased eye pressure is NOT the same as glaucoma (contrary to the Mens Health post by dhammala), which is actually a family of diseases, most of which are in fact NOT associated with increased eye pressure.

Blood flow is all about pressure gradients. If you have low systemic blood pressure normally, and you increase the pressure in your eyes during weightlifting, you're simply changing the pressure gradient across the vessels leading to your eyes, which is making it harder for blood to get in. It's quite a common thing, actually, but it's probably a good idea to just phone your eye doctor and have a chat about it. Talking to your doctor will help you rule out the rare possibility of disease and, of course, make you feel better. :)

[JMD]

Thank you so very much..I will look into it on Monday. Thanks for easing my mind:)

Blessings,
Jen

[Over40]

>>>especially the breath-holding manoeuvre that is typical during heavy weightlifting, might be related to abnormally high blood pressure<<<

What Men's Health is describing here is Val Salva.

Certain exercise gurus (Hutchins, McGuff, Hahn, etc.) insist that slowing down the rep (anywhere from 2-20 seconds per rep) will help alleviate this problem, but only as long as you are breathing throughout the movement.

Good luck with your lifting,

Jon

[mbf]

Along with all the good advice given, as a certified personal trainer I see this often and it usually comes from a mix of 2-3 things but of course go to your doctor before you continue to workout.

1.proper warm up, don't just dive in the weight lifting area. start on a treadmill or elliptical and warm up your body. You must prepare your body for exercise. Start with walk work up to mild perspiration and then slowly bring your heart rate down. Get off and and stretch a little, not long intense stretches, save those for after your workout.

2. too much weight ,slow down and work on muscle endurance first. That means low weight more reps. The slowly start to increase the weight. Not 10-15lbs at a time, that is too much !

3. Poor form and incorrect breathing. Get some help from a personal trainer, even 1 session will help and it's worth your health ! I find it best to train people in in 30 minute sessions other wise it can be to overwhelming. Don't follow the example of other members on the floor, sadly, most of them are doing things incorrectly too !

Best of luck, get to your doctor and keep us posted.

MBF

[JMD]

Thanks all of you!! I will slow it down and breath better. I do warm up a lot, I think it may be when i feel strong I wanna push the weights:)

Jen

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi JMD,

You sound a little like I was.

I not a body builder, but I use to go downstairs to the gym on my lunch hours and work out. I had fibromyalgia then and my Rhuemotoloist told me that exercise was one of the best things I could do.

Anyway, I started getting symptoms in addition to the fibromyaliga with one of them being the blurred vision. To make a long story short, within 3 weeks I was so bad that I couldn't even walk down the steps to get to the gym and within months I had to quit work.

I eventually figured out (now this is just me) that it was my thyroid that caused all of this, even though I was on Synthroid at the time with my test results saying that I was "normal". Once I got on the right meds all of my symptoms were gone.

It was at that time I wanted to know why I had thyroid disease and learned about raw foods and now I'm weaning off of my thyroid meds (meds have been cut back 5 times now).

Blurred vision could be caused by so many different things. It's going to be a challenge for you and your doctor(s) to figure out what is causing it. But continue with your raw foods and you should start to see an improvement.

BTW - after being bed ridden for 2 years with the fibro, chronic fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, etc., they all dissappeared within 10 days of being on the right meds. Hope you can figure out what is causing your fibro and can get over it quickly. Again, with raw foods you will get over it . . . it will take a while though!!!! Enjoy your raw journey to health

<>< Helen of Tennessee