Pre Workout Cold Sweats – Why Do I Get Them? Find Out Here!

Cold Sweats And Other Pre-Workout Supplement Side Effects

There are many pre-workout supplements available on the market.

Some claim to help with energy, others focus on muscle growth, and others even claim to increase stamina.

But most of these products contain stimulants. Stimulants may cause side effects such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety, jitters, and even cold sweats.

What Exactly Are Pre-Workouts?

“Pre-workouts” can pertain to a pre-workout meal, drink, or supplement that people take at least 30 minutes before their workout to fuel them. 

It can offer many benefits such as energy boost, increased mental focus, increased muscle blood flow and building muscle mass and strength. It can also prevent fatigue and repair muscle damage.

However, it can also have negative side effects. 

Some of the more common negative effects are:

• jitteriness
• insomnia
• anxiety
• heart palpitation
• headaches
• tingling sensation
• nausea

There are many more possible side effects of pre-workout supplements. The side effects will depend on what ingredients are in the formula and more.

The effects of pre-workout will also vary per individual. 

Some factors that can affect the effects of pre-workout supplements:

• the formula used in the supplement
• ingredients
• dosage
• health conditions
• frequency of usage.

What Exactly Are Cold Sweats?

Cold sweats can happen due to a variety of different conditions.

Our bodies’ fight or flight response triggers cold sweats.

It is a sign of sudden significant stress. The stress may be physical, psychological, or a combination of both.

Unlike normal sweating, cold sweats are not caused by feeling hot or exercising. 

In fact, when having cold sweat, you will feel a chill in your body regardless of the temperature of your environment. 

Cold Sweats After Taking Pre-Workout

Pre-workouts contain many ingredients that affect our bodies in different ways. 

Caffeine is a common ingredient in many pre-workout supplements. It affects the mild central nervous system.

Pre-workouts can also contain Nitric oxide precursors. It relaxes the blood vessels affecting blood flow and oxygen delivery.

Some pre-workout supplements contain thermogenic ingredients. Thermogenic ingredients can increase the body’s core temperature and metabolism rate. 

That said, out of the long list of ingredients in pre-workout supplements, it’s hard to pinpoint which one is directly causing your cold sweats. 

In any case, having cold sweats after taking a pre-workout is a sign that your body is reacting negatively to at least one ingredient of the pre-workout supplement you use. 

Situations, Symptoms, And Conditions That Can Cause/ Come With Cold Sweats May Include:

• Anxiety disorders – having a disorder is one thing, but the feeling of anxiousness is also a potential side effect of caffeine and other stimulants in a pre-workout supplement.
• Hot flashes – Niacin is also one of the popular pre-workout ingredients, and it may cause flushing (reddish skin), which is harmless. Although, Niacin can also cause hormone changes which can also cause cold sweating. 
• Fainting – We faint when we don’t get enough oxygen to our brain, and we can get cold sweats before fainting. Fainting can be caused by dehydration, exhaustion, or too fast or too slow heart rate – among others. 
• Hyperhidrosis – Hyperhidrosis happens when your body’s sweat glands overact, and you sweat excessively. It can be triggered by a medical condition, emotions like anxiety, exercise, or heat. The increase in sweat rate is not a cause of concern in itself unless caused by an underlying health condition. It can be uncomfortable and cause disruption in your life, so it’s also recommended to see your doctor about it.
• Hypoxia – cold sweats can also be caused by Hypoxia or lack of oxygen.
• Nausea – Nausea can be caused by various situations, such as dehydration, overeating, or taking certain medications.
• Migraines – Our bodies can break out in cold sweats as a response to the pain of a migraine. The Nitric oxide precursors in some pre-workouts affect the blood vessels. It can also affect the blood flow in the brain and cause migraine. 
• Shock – A shock is our bodies’ reaction to extreme environmental conditions or severe injury. It can cause a lack of oxygen or blood, especially in our organs. If left like that, the organs can suffer some harm. Shocks can be fatal, so it’s important to seek medical professional help immediately. 
• Heart Attack – Prolonged use of stimulants like caffeine can affect the cardiovascular system. They can cause palpitation, arrhythmia, and increased heart rate, among others. A cold sweat can be a warning sign of a heart attack. If you’re having shortness of breath and pain in the chest or upper body together with your cold sweat, seek medical care immediately.

Are Cold Sweats The Same As Night Sweats?

They are two different things.

Cold sweats can happen anytime, and it doesn’t necessarily cover your entire body with sweat. Cold sweats usually affect your palms, armpits, and soles.

In contrast, night sweats only happen while you’re sleeping. Night sweats can cover your whole body with lots of sweat.

They may both be a symptom of a medical condition, but night sweats are primarily caused by the expansion of blood vessels which causes an increase in blood flow, heat, and rapid heartbeat.

Like cold sweats, night sweats can also be caused by workouts. You can get night sweats from working out too close to your bedtime.

As mentioned above, some pre-workout supplement ingredients can also cause an increase in body temperature. So, if you take it close to your bedtime, it can also trigger night sweats.

Final Words

Pre-workouts can be extremely beneficial. It can give us the extra boost we need to finally reach our fitness goals or just make the most of our gym session.

But, pre-workout supplements are not for everyone. 

If you’ve tried pre-workout supplements and experienced any alarming symptoms, you probably shouldn’t continue taking them.

It’s best to stop taking the pre-workout immediately and seek medical help if you have any doubts or concerns, just to be sure. 

But suppose you’re still looking for something that will boost your workout performance without causing any negative side effects. In that case, you may want to consider using pre-workout supplement alternatives and even just pre-workout meals.

Stay safe, and see you in another article!