Is Pre Workout Chest Pain Life Threatening? Know Now!

By - Dr Umme Hurayra

Is pre workout chest pain bothering you? Well, if that’s the case, then you must have gone for the wrong supplement. Whenever you add any supplement to your diet, you must be aware of its ingredients. These products which improve exercise performance can be life-threatening if consumed in dry form (dry scooping).

Although the pre-workout supplements can do wonders if you’re planning to use them, you must be aware of the consequences.

If pre workout chest pain has made you sick of using the supplements, then don’t worry. We’re here to explain to you all about the causes of chest pain, pre-workout side effects, and a lot more! Read the whole article for maximum knowledge saturation about pre workout chest pain. 

If you’re planning to join the pre-workout team, then here’s all you must be aware of.

Can Pre Workout Cause Chest Pain?

Back in the 1980s, when pre-workout supplements first entered the market, the bodybuilders went crazy after it. Before this, all people had was a banana or a shake to prep before the exercise.

Pre-workout supplements are the energy boosters that help you go through a challenging workout quickly.

Now, with tons of satisfied customers, we also have a list of those who nearly died after using these supplements! The fact to consider is that all the brands have their pre-workout formulas. Just like no two plants can be grown together in a small pot, no two supplements can consist of exactly similar ingredients.

People often ask. “Why does my chest hurt after pre workout?” Well, there isn’t just a single reason for it. It entirely depends on the ingredients of the supplement. However, the basic constituents are somewhat constant, but there are slight changes in their quantities and minor ingredients.

7 Side Effects of Pre Workout Supplements

One might not wake up with the same energy to work out daily. One can also feel lethargic sometimes, and if that’s what’s happening with, you then pre-workout supplements can help you.

Such supplements are supplied with those ingredients which act as a stimulant for your daily exercise. Despite the fact it boosts up the energy levels during exercise, its side-effects are inevitable.

Keeping all the benefits aside, we cannot ignore the demerits of the supplement. Just like drugs, FDA does not regulate these supplements. Some pre-workouts can do wonders, but others can be potentially harmful.

In a hustle to reap the maximum, sometimes you forget to check on the opposing side. So, to help you, we’ve brought a one-stop guide to pre-workout side effects.

1. Insomnia – Sleep Disorder

Sometimes you start the day in a lazy mood, or maybe your office work is a heavy burden on your arms. In both of these cases, you might consider using pre-workout to reduce the burden of exercise. What if using the supplement takes away your sleep?

What would be worse than that!

The majority of the pre-workout supplements are rich in caffeine. This isn’t about a single cup of coffee. A single serving of the supplement contains approximately 300mg of caffeine. On the contrary, the caffeine amount in a single serving cup ranges from 60-90mg. So, you can see the difference on your own!

Caffeine, being the power stimulant, is the main culprit in causing insomnia. Moreover, it also enhances the stress level (increase cortisol) in some consumers. So, mainly, if you work out at night, you must try to avoid such supplements. 

2. Anxiety | Nervousness

Although caffeine is the primary factor for increasing workout strength, it leads to several side effects. These include anxiety, vomiting, insomnia, and nausea. Caffeine helps in muscle growth, but it also increases nervousness and feelings of anxiety.

 To prevent all of these side effects, you must consult a doctor first. Be aware of your caffeine sensitivity level. If you can’t tackle it, you can also choose a supplement that doesn’t contain caffeine.

Caffeine is also one of the prime reasons for headaches. A few paragraphs above, I explained to you how caffeine could cause a sleeping disorder. Furthermore, it was a culprit of stress too. Both of these problems are known to cause headaches.

3. Dehydration

While exercising, you are already losing water as sweat. Whenever you’re taking pre-workout you should double the quantity of water intake. That’s because such supplements are known to pull out water from the body and excrete it.

Although there is no evidence of caffeine or creatine being responsible for it, several research pieces suggest creatine is the culprit.

To avoid this from happening, you should change your daily dosage. Instead of a loading phase, try small daily doses. Moreover, make sure your body always remains hydrated. 

4. Headache

Well, it’s not caffeine this time. It’s citrulline! Citrulline is a compound that promotes vasodilation which is the distension of the blood vessels. Due to the dilation, the blood flow enhances to the brain leading to headaches. However, the proportion of consumers complaining about it is significantly less.

L-citrulline combines with malate and promotes the dilation of vessels. Hence, it boosts up the blood flow.

5. High Blood pressure

Although all the stimulants lead to a high BP, caffeine once again stands guilty here. Even short-term usage can cause a spike in your blood pressure. This can also lead to heart problems, including pre workout chest pain.

If you’re hypertensive, then you must consult your doctor before starting any of the pre-workouts.

6. Tingly Sensations

If your supplement consists of beta-alanine and niacin, then there are high chances of you experiencing prickling sensations. However, these sensations aren’t too dangerous for you. 

Beta-alanine, in the supplement, helps in the reduction of acidity during the workout. At the same time, niacin helps in the body’s energy metabolism.

If the problem is associated with beta-alanine, you can divide the doses one to two times a day. However, if it is due to niacin they reducing the daily dosage can be the best remedy.

7. Digestive Problems

The primary ingredients responsible for upset digestive include,

Several ingredients might cause a laxative effect on the stomach leading to diarrhea. Moreover, to prevent this, you should mix your supplement powder in a large quantity of water. Too much-concentrated solution can lead to digestive problems.

For your information, many brands out there also offer a trial and error session. This simply means that you can try the supplements and decide if they suit you or not. It’s way better than purchasing them directly in bulk.

Since the pandemic started, people have been doing crazy experiments at home. But this time, a viral tik tok trend has exceeded all the limits! Yes, I am talking about the dry scooping trend. 

What Is Dry Scooping? Is It Bad For You?

For those who don’t know what dry scooping is, it’s when someone gets dry pre-workout powder, puts in their mouth, and gulps it down with a few sips of water. And it is one of the major causes of pre workout chest pain.

This bizarre trend popped up on social media, and all the gym freaks jumped on the bandwagon and tried this out.

This might seem cool to you, but it has imposed severe health issues. Health professionals have warned bodybuilders about the viral trend many times!

Considering the public reviews, it worked for some people, but for others, it did not. So, to help you decide whether to go for it or not, we’ve brought you a detailed guideline,

Dry Scooping Pre Workout Side Effects

The pre-workout powder is a mixture of several amino acids, caffeine, creatine, and other sugary alcohols, enhancing strength. Usually, this powder is dissolved in water for usage. However, dry scooping eliminates the use of water, as suggested by the name.

It won’t be wrong to call it a life-threatening trend.

Health professionals suggest that there is no benefit of using dry scooping. It eliminates the advantages and can be life-threatening. Following side-effects outweigh the so-called advantages people risk their health for,

Is dry scooping pre workout terrible for your teeth? – This might be surprising for you, but yes! Dry scooping can badly damage your teeth. It not only causes heart problems but can also cause permanent damage to the teeth. 

Is C4 Pre Workout Chest Pain Dangerous? 

C4 is one of the most popular pre-workout with a massive list of satisfied customers. Usually, its consumers don’t face any side effects. However, those who are intolerant to caffeine or any other ingredient can face life-threatening problems.

People often ask, is “C4 pre workout bad for your heart?” or “Can c4 cause chest pain?” Well, the answer to both the questions is yes, based on multiple reviews. However, it’s in the case of excessive consumption of the product.

C4 pre workout chest pain is experienced by those who are intolerant to caffeine. If you’re one of them, consuming excessive amounts of the supplement can lead to severe heart problems. 

The side effects of C4 supplement includes,

Final Words

All such supplements come with some side effects. Anxiety, diarrhea, headaches, and high blood pressure are common. When it comes to pre workout chest pain, one shouldn’t take it lightly. All you need to do is, keep a check on the ingredients. Make sure you consult your doctor before everything gets out of your hands.

FAQ

Can Preworkout cause chest pain?

Pre-workout supplements are rich in caffeine, which can lead to cardiovascular disorders if consumed in high quantities. Hence, they can cause heart problems, anxiety, and high blood pressure.

Can pre-workout give you a heart attack?

Consumers of the supplement usually complain about the pre workout chest pain. However, pre-workout ingredients, especially caffeine, are highly responsible for increasing the risk of a heart attack.

Can pre-workout cause shortness of breath?

Swallowing the powder in a large quantity can cause choking and breathing problems. However, some ingredients in the supplements can constrict the blood vessels leading to blood pressure problems and cause shortness of breath.

Does C4 affect your heart?

Many customers, after using the C4 supplement, have reportedly died. However, there is no evidence of C4 being the cause of death. C4 can be addictive, and a high consuming rate might become a reason for many heart problems. Particularly, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, then you must consult a doctor before consuming it.