Just curious: I had been windsurfing for a couple of hours the other day, as I have been doing for years and I had done the whole summer. ( I am 74, in excellent physical condition).
It was an easy session and I did not exert myself too much, certainly no more than usually.
To my surprise, on my way back to shore, while dragging the board in the shallow I had a sudden feeling of exhaustion accompanied by diffuse, almost painful tension in the muscles of the upper torso, below the neck and extending below the shoulders area. I had to sit down as I found myself so tired that I could barely go about packing up the gear and loading the board on the top of the car,( which I have always done up to a few days before without a problem ).
The whole thing lasted about an hour. By the time I packed and drove back home I was completely recovered and I have no sequels.
I’ll see my doctor , but I wonder whether the harness may have something to do with this.
It was the first time I wore one. Could it be that somehow the harness, in addition a fairly tight wet-suit and the life vest constricts the blood circulation in some of the arteries in the abdominal or pelvic area, especially when I crouch and struggle to stand up to uphaul? Maybe this constriction causes a temporary oxygen starvation in the heart which has to work in overdrive for some time…
Thanks
Francone
Select to expand quoteFrancone said..
Just curious: I had been windsurfing for a couple of hours the other day, as I have been doing for years and I had done the whole summer. ( I am 74, in excellent physical condition).
It was an easy session and I did not exert myself too much, certainly no more than usually.
To my surprise, on my way back to shore, while dragging the board in the shallow I had a sudden feeling of exhaustion accompanied by diffuse, almost painful tension in the muscles of the upper torso, below the neck and extending below the shoulders area. I had to sit down as I found myself so tired that I could barely go about packing up the gear and loading the board on the top of the car,( which I have always done up to a few days before without a problem ).
The whole thing lasted about an hour. By the time I packed and drove back home I was completely recovered and I have no sequels.
I’ll see my doctor , but I wonder whether the harness may have something to do with this.
It was the first time I wore one. Could it be that somehow the harness, in addition a fairly tight wet-suit and the life vest constricts the blood circulation in some of the arteries in the abdominal or pelvic area, especially when I crouch and struggle to stand up to uphaul? Maybe this constriction causes a temporary oxygen starvation in the heart which has to work in overdrive for some time…
Thanks
Francone
The harness hypothesis could be true? That you recovered fully within an hour is a good sign. The major arteries in the upper torso are fairly deep if there was a blockage or constriction in upper torso arteries you wouldnt think the harness would cause that, and thats not a good sign. Best to see dr, and to be safe if happens again go straight to hospital. BTW I'm not a cardiologist.
With those kind of signs I would definitely see a doctor and soon, but I can tell you that a windsurfing friend of similar age had a problem because his buoyancy vest was too tight and restricting his breathing.
Select to expand quoteFrancone said..
Just curious: I had been windsurfing for a couple of hours the other day, as I have been doing for years and I had done the whole summer. ( I am 74, in excellent physical condition).
It was an easy session and I did not exert myself too much, certainly no more than usually.
To my surprise, on my way back to shore, while dragging the board in the shallow I had a sudden feeling of exhaustion accompanied by diffuse, almost painful tension in the muscles of the upper torso, below the neck and extending below the shoulders area. I had to sit down as I found myself so tired that I could barely go about packing up the gear and loading the board on the top of the car,( which I have always done up to a few days before without a problem ).
The whole thing lasted about an hour. By the time I packed and drove back home I was completely recovered and I have no sequels.
I’ll see my doctor , but I wonder whether the harness may have something to do with this.
It was the first time I wore one. Could it be that somehow the harness, in addition a fairly tight wet-suit and the life vest constricts the blood circulation in some of the arteries in the abdominal or pelvic area, especially when I crouch and struggle to stand up to uphaul? Maybe this constriction causes a temporary oxygen starvation in the heart which has to work in overdrive for some time…
Thanks
Francone
Sounds like heart attack symptons? Have you been checked out?
Don't feel silly.. I went to hospital a while ago with symptons very similar to ones I often have. I thought I better get checked just in case it was heart related..Turned out I'd had an internal bleed due to being on anti inflammatories too long..Dr said if I'd waited another day I would have been dead..scary as I could easily have just gone to bed to sleep it off..better to feel stupid than dead...
I've worn many different types of harness, life vests, impact vests and wet suits, in combination, often close fitting and tight. I've never experienced the symptoms you have described. As others have said, see you doctor, these symptoms should never be ignored or explained away.
If I read your post correctly, Francone, you are wearing a harness for the first time. I suspect it is because of that, you added a new dimension to your routines. More so if you are not too familiar with using one. Consequently, you are actually working harder than you are conscious of. Another possibility is that you may not have fitted the harness correctly to suit your style of sailing. That is not surprising as we all have issues getting used to a new harness. I venture to suggest you were worn out for trying too hard 
Happy sailing...
Maybe try a seat harness ...it might not squeeze the heart area ...or lungs Starving of oxygen .
Maybe try a seat harness ...it might not squeeze the heart area ...or lungs Starving of oxygen .
It could be an issue with what is called Venous return, that is how much blood is getting back to your heart from the limbs, organs, and extremities. Compression wear is designed to assist with this to aid recovery. If however too much compression of the limbs and organs occur occurs Venous return is reduced which in term reduces the volume of oxygen rich blood being pumped out to the body. This can make you feel sick, very lethargic, dizzy, and significantly reduce mental function.
Is the wetty really tight? Was the harness done up too tight?
Eliminate the possibility of this being a cardiac episode as your first priority. If you get cleared, then look at the other possibilities.
Select to expand quoteTardy said..
Maybe try a seat harness ...it might not squeeze the heart area ...or lungs Starving of oxygen .
This could be true if your heart turns out to be okay.
I know when I wear a waist harness, I can't breath as well, less air=less oxygen in the blood, and I tire faster.
I've gone back to a surfseat and my endurance is much better, in fact it's not even close in comparison.
This is my favorite harness. It protects the lower back as well. Nice thing is, it had crotch straps that prevent the harness from sliding up your waist. You are able to get away with not having the harness bar as tight up against your belly because again, the crotch straps prevent the harness from riding up. Plus this harness has a lot of load points that supply comfort when on the water.
