Medical physiology question: I work at a hospital, why do I get lightheaded and clammy when this happens?

Question

I work as a therapist assistant. Sometimes the therapists ask me to hold the patient up in bed. Often times the patient has no core strength so I end up doing a lot of the work. It s happened a few times that I ve gotten really light headed from this. With deductive reasoning I believe that this is due to me exerting myself against a (nearly) immovable object, while not flexing any other muscles. I believe this leads to some type of brain hypoxia that makes me feel dizzy. Note: I also get really clammy and sweaty when this happens.

Any help would be appreciated, I understand it may be a difficult question. thanks!

Any help would be appreciated, I understand it may be a difficult question. thanks!

? · Answer

A few possibilities:
1.  You're getting anxious, which causes your body to release adrenaline and other stress hormones, which makes you sweat and feel dizzy.  Perhaps you're worried that you'll drop the patient, or you're worried that the therapist is judging you.
2.  You're performing the valsalva maneuver.  This causes temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain, which can cause the symptoms you describe.
3.  You are exerting yourself and your blood sugar gets low, which causes your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, which triggers your blood sugar to convert stored glycogen into blood sugar.

Steven S · Answer

You work at a hospital. Someone there is probably better qualified to answer this.

Medical physiology question: I work at a hospital, why do I get lightheaded and clammy when this happens?

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