Dr. Hive: Help me understand young teen lightheadedness

[Ali in OR]

My 13 yo dd was at a track meet yesterday and had a maybe 5-10 minute episode of lightheadedness (I think--she used that word and then I got caught up in her trying to describe the feeling). We were about 1.5 hours into the meet and it was maybe 1/2 an hour after her first event (all her events were sprints--no long distance runs). She was out in the infield in the bright sunshine hanging out with friends, but it wasn't hot--maybe mid-60's. She did not faint. She came and found me in the stands and was clearly troubled by the feeling. She said she did not feel sick and it did not feel like a heat illness which she had during a 100° soccer game last summer. I had her sit in the shade with me and after a minute or two she said the feeling was going away. Then we walked to the part of the stands where her bag was and I had her drink water and sit with me another 15 minutes. She then said she felt fine, she did all of the rest of her events and performed fine, and she had no repeat of the symptoms. She did indicate she had had this feeling before, but not frequently, and could remember that once was while "watching t.v. while the lights were on."

 

Other info: This dd is in early puberty, definitely in a growth spurt (grew an inch between Dec and Mar), is 5'4" and 98 lbs (no fat, very active), very fit, picky eater. I do make sure she is getting a decent breakfast and lunch on meet days and she had eaten some of her meet snacks, so I don't think it was a low blood sugar thing. She doesn't eat vegetables and doesn't eat enough fruits, loves meat, eats too many sweets. Dehydration is a possibility--she didn't have much to drink in the morning, had a soda for lunch because we had to eat out due to school/track schedule. It's hard to get her to drink during the day because she says she's not thirsty. After the episode she did drink more and specifically asked me to bring her water bottle down to the track between her 3rd and 4th events--she drank most of the 32 oz in the bottle during the meet. I remember fainting once in church when I was her age and then several times in late teens-early thirties after giving blood/blood draws. I tend to have low blood pressure as did my mom--don't know about this dd.

 

Thoughts? Similar experiences?

[hornblower]

based on what you said, I'd say dehydration.

But also consider: has she been sleeping enough?  Lack of sleep can trigger lightheadedness. It's not listed as a common symptom but I get it. Usually hits me a few hours after I get up.  If I've been getting sleep but just not quite enough, it might hit me on day 3 or 4 ... so not necessarily on the first day but a couple days of suboptimal sleep and I often start to feel woozy at some point in the day. 
 

[housemouse]

lack of sleep and dehydration. I would go more with dehydration. My 13 yo had the same thing just by running around too much in the park with his friends and it was mid 70's that day with a nice breeze. He said everything got very bright for him with a tint of green- dr. said it was most likely dehydration.  Another thing to consider is low blood pressure. Some kids get that  way with blood pressure drops during puberty, especially if there is family history of low blood pressure.

[OH_Homeschooler]

I've noticed that sometimes a couple days before my period arrives I have this completely unstable feeling, and sometimes I have to grab something to be sure I don't fall down. Dr. Google assures me this is not uncommon.

 

Another possibility-I did mention it once to my doctor before I made the connection with my period, and he suggested I could have crystals in my ear. He had no suggestions for what I would do if that was the case, so he wasn't too concerned if that was the case. 

[zoobie]

Dehydration, possibly electrolyte imbalance. Low blood pressure (which can tie in to those). DH needs to eat lots of salt. SmartWater has added electrolytes with no flavor or sugar. I can tolerate it when Gatorade sounds sickly sweet.

[Ali in OR]

Thanks all. Dd reminded me this morning that at her last physical they did say she has low blood pressure. I'm thinking it may have been a combination of things--a little low blood pressure, a little dehydration, she did lose a couple of hours of sleep yesterday due to an early dental appointment. I will try not to worry but see if some little tweaks can keep this from happening again.

[J-rap]

It could be something about the age.  That's the age I started to get light-headed sometimes, often standing in church.  That's the age one of my daughters started having problems with it too.  I think some people are just more prone to it, but it might not really mean anything at all besides just having a more delicate system.  I just learned to live with it, and knew what my triggers were.  (Standing in warm, stuffy places, getting up quickly, or putting my arms up in the air in a certain position:  the "hug" position, actually.  I fainted several times while hugging my husband before I figured it out!)

 

Over the years it just got better and now I can't even remember the last time I had trouble with it.  But, I also learned how to change my breathing when I would first get symptoms, etc.

 

I think more is known about it now too.  My daughter was diagnosed as having a form of autonomic failure, which really isn't as bad as it sounds.  It just means, at least for her, that her body is slower to adjust to the changing environment around her.  It's genetic and is just the way her body is.  However, they've told her that adding salty liquids to her diet can often help, and she believes it does.

 

ETA:  I think adding protein to my diet, especially at breakfast, was helpful.  And taking away sugary stuff at breakfast.  Not that I had a lot, but even fruit juices can have a lot of natural sugar in them that I think made my lightheadedness worse.

Edited April 7, 2016 by J-rap

[Catherine]

Does she have menstrual periods yet?  Iron deficiency can manifest this way.  Even if she doesn't have period  yet she might be iron deficient.  And even iron deficiency, without anemia, can cause it.  

[Ali in OR]

I'm guessing she's still 2 years from menstruation unless she progresses through these early stages of puberty a lot faster than her sister did. She's also a meat-eater (though we don't eat a ton of red meat), so I was thinking it probably wasn't anemia. I'm going to have her start taking the multivitamin more regularly, but I don't think kids' gummies (the only kind she'll take) have iron. Obviously if it becomes a regular thing we'll get her checked out.

Edited April 7, 2016 by Ali in OR

[gardenmom5]

is she properly hydrated?  including electrolytes et. al?  coconut water does better than gatorade.

 

I was lightheaded a lot at that age - but was also most likely dehydrated.

 

[OnMyOwn]

My dd experienced lightheadedness on and off starting sometime around 12 years old. She's 14 now and it's been awhile since she's complained about it. I do wonder if it was something to do with shifting hormones. Hope all is well with your dd. I know I was worried about my girl but all seems well now.

[Scarlett]

My thin Ds fainted once...and a few months later almost did. His was definitely dehydrated both times. He is a believer now. He drinks. :)

[Liz CA]

I did the same thing when I was a teen and it still happens to me now off and on. Low blood pressure is the culprit but at my age it's a blessing. :001_smile:

Perhaps drinks with electrolytes or fermented iced tea like Kombucha mixed with water would be better than sodas or juices. Can you get her to eat eggs or just an egg white? Protein and hydration help me immensely.

[Liz CA]

  I fainted several times while hugging my husband before I figured it out!)

 

 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[MASHomeschooler]

I'm guessing she's still 2 years from menstruation unless she progresses through these early stages of puberty a lot faster than her sister did. She's also a meat-eater (though we don't eat a ton of red meat), so I was thinking it probably wasn't anemia. I'm going to have her start taking the multivitamin more regularly, but I don't think kids' gummies (the only kind she'll take) have iron. Obviously if it becomes a regular thing we'll get her checked out.

 

My girls take this iron gummy in addition to their multi:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Friends-Iron-Supplement-Count/dp/B005CC3X2I