What Causes Sweating, Dry Heaves And Headache After A Welding Class?

Posted on Mon, 28 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 Answered on

Mon, 19 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Please help! My husband was taking a welding class last night (for beginners). About 3 hours into the class he suddenly became ill - "pouring" sweat, dry heaves, a dull headache. He told the instructor, who said "you probably have carbon monoxide". My husband went quickly to the bathroom, sat down in the lobby, then immediately left and drove the 35 minutes home. He felt ill all of the way home. When he got home he tried to explain it all to me. He said the he still didn't feel well, but was so tired that he had to immediately go to bed. I checked on him periodically. He now says he is fine. We want to know if he needs to go to the dr. to be checked-out. He is 60 yrs old, in pretty good health. He had a heat attack 10 yrs, has his blood pressure under control with meds, takes meds for cholesterol. Again, he says and seems like he is ok now. Oh. and he is taking Naproxen for frozen shoulder . Does he need to see a dr? He thinks the illness may be from the meds, but I am worried about what the welding teacher said. THANK YOU. - XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Sweta Singla (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please get an ECG done and show to a cardiologist

Detailed Answer:
The symptoms you described may still be from carbon monoxide exposure during the welding lessons. But still in a hypertensive patient, I would like to rule out cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction. Sometimes a minor heart attack may present like these symptoms. And that also would be relieved on rest. Please go to a cardiologist and get your ECG done to rule that out.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj