Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

Why does deadlifts makes you feel like you are going to pass out? Can it be avoided?

3 min read

Asked by: Anthony Murphy

This is called “hyperventilation”, where they inhale and exhale too quickly, resulting in narrowed blood vessels that reduce the blood supply to the brain. Taking too many breaths can also leads to feeling faint. If you get lightheaded while deadlifting, check your breathing.

Is it normal to pass out during deadlift?

The typical cause is from low blood pressure where the heart isn’t able to pump enough oxygen to the brain. This lack of oxygen and decrease in blood pressure results in fainting, which in a lifter’s case is often caused under strenuous loads.

Why do I feel light headed when Deadlifting?

Once you’ve finished the lift, your blood pressure decreases, often below baseline before rising again and returning to normal. The rising and falling of blood pressure can happen quickly, and it’s the sudden drop in pressure that can make you feel light headed.

How do I not pass out on deadlifts?

Here’s how:

  1. Inhale, set your back, and pull the bar up to the lockout.
  2. At the lockout, do a short, sharp exhalation – just a small breath out.
  3. Hold your remaining breath as you lower the bar down all the way.
  4. Only exhale fully after the bar has been set back onto the floor.
  5. Set up for the next rep.


How do you not pass out when lifting weights?

Start hydrating the day before vigorous exercise, and drink one to three cups of water before you exercise. Take deep breaths before each lift and don’t take too long to complete them. If blacking out during exercise happens more than once in a training session, consult a doctor.

What can make you suddenly pass out?

Getting too hot or being in a crowded, poorly ventilated setting are common causes of fainting. Sometimes just standing for a very long time or getting up too fast after sitting or lying down can cause someone to faint. Emotional stress. Emotions like fright, pain, anxiety, or shock can cause blood pressure to drop.

How do you breathe when Deadlifting?


So how to time your breathing is just as big there's two places you can get a breath on a deadlift rep set either at the top of the lift or at the bottom.

Why do athletes pass out?

The most common serious causes of collapse in the athlete include hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, heatstroke, cardiac arrest, and various other serious medical conditions, including seizures, brain hemorrhage, and diabetic coma.

Should I stop exercising if I get dizzy?

If you experience dizziness during exercise, stop whatever you are doing and rest. Keep your head above your heart. If the dizziness does not respond to drinking fluids or eating something and does not go away after an hour, contact a doctor.

Why do I feel like blacking out after exercise?

Low blood sugar



During exercise, the muscles use more glucose than usual. As a result, some people experience low blood sugar during or after physical exertion. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include: dizziness.