Training daze

I felt like I was going to die after a recent workout. I seriously couldn't breathe for almost an hour. What happened?

Blame that nausea and shortness of breath on a spike in lactic-acid production, says MF physical-therapy adviser Bill Hartman, C.S.C.S. That shot of lactic acid stimulates what's called the vagus nerve, the part of your nervous system responsible for controlling heart rate and breathing.

At the same time lactic acid goes up, your blood vessels can dilate, lowering your blood pressure and leaving you nauseous, lightheaded, and just plain sick. "You may even pass out," warns Hartman.

Usually, the feeling of sickness should pass in about half an hour. But you can cut that time down even more. Next time you're gasping for air after what literally feels like your last set, try lying on the floor. "Because of the drop in blood pressure, you have less blood moving toward the brain" says Hartman. Lying down helps to pump more oxygen-rich blood back to your noggin.

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