Fainting, also called syncope (pronounced SIN-ko-pee), is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness and posture caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Often, if the fainting episode does not go away quickly, the person will be placed on a heart monitor, have intravenous line (IV) fluids, and oxygen supplied.
Stimulation of the vagus nerve, which can cause the heart to slow and blood pressure to drop drastically, is one cause of fainting spells. These details will help the doctor to make a diagnosis. Lesley Dobson is a health journalist who has been contributing to Saga Magazine for over ten years. Low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension). Valve diseases may include abnormal narrowing (stenosis) or leakage (insufficiency or regurgitation). Have a family history of sudden and unexplained deaths.
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The faint may be preceded by chest pain or the sensation of having a 'thumping heart' (palpitations) and may happen during exercise. Treatment for the cause of fainting will be tailored to each person. Electrolyte and hormone abnormalities may also be responsible for syncope; however, these causes are due to their effects on the heart and blood vessels. For example, if the person is having a heart attack, may complain of chest pain or pressure. The person will feel flush (warm or hot are also common feelings) followed by sudden weakness and loss of consciousness. Get your first 3 months of Saga Magazine for just £3 and enjoy access to Saga's membership programme, Possibilities. 2014;5:471. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00471, Bergfeldt L. Differential diagnosis of cardiogenic syncope and seizure disorders. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. During a heart attack, the heart muscle can become too weak to maintain blood pressure.
Structural problems with the heart can cause fainting or syncope, either because there is a problem with the ability of the heart to adequately pump blood or because of valve problems. It is the most common cause of fainting. Fainting happens when you lose consciousness for a short amount of time (a few seconds to a few minutes) because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. This may obstruct blood when it tries to leave the heart, especially when the heart is asked to beat harder during exercise. MRI scanning is painless and does not involve X-ray radiation. While fainting may indicate a particular medical condition, sometimes it may occur in an otherwise healthy individual. How to treat constipation and hard-to-pass stools. When food enters the system, the vagus nerve directs blood to the stomach and intestines, pulling it from other body tissues, including the brain. Discover what is considered low blood pressure. People who have had a vasovagal episode may be aware of the warning signs and be able to sit or lie down before passing out and prevent the fainting episode. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts University. A pacemaker is a device or system that sends electrical impulses to the heart in order to set the heart rhythm. Lie down flat with your legs up on a chair or against a wall or sit down on the ground with your head between your knees. If you have PoTS, this reaction doesn’t happen, and the reduction in the amount of blood reaching your heart and brain can make you faint. In some people, a watchful waiting to decide whether further testing is needed. Vasovagal syncope is one of the most common causes of fainting. Heart. How are the causes of fainting diagnosed? This can be quite alarming, but they will usually come to in a short time, often no more than a minute or two. As a result of neurological diseases such as. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Patient.info uses cookies to improve your experience and deliver personalised advertising. In this situation, the balance between the chemicals adrenaline and acetylcholine is disrupted. The muscles lose their tone and the body just collapses into whatever heap gravity pulls it to. Patients will often learn the warning signs and symptoms of fainting and can learn to avoid it. Explore low blood pressure causes, symptoms, and signs. Most fainting spells can be easily explained, but some people never get a diagnosis or know the specific cause of the fainting spells. Sudden death in athletes may be foreshadowed by episodes of syncope. Dehydration can cause medical complications. Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an abnormality in the heart rhythm, which Make sure that the person who has fainted is breathing, that their colour is returning to normal, and they aren’t choking. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. There is not enough blood or fluid within the blood vessels. Most people who suffer from simple fainting have no underlying heart or neurological (nerve or brain) problem. Even standing up or sitting up straight can make you faint, or leave you feeling dizzy and rather sick. You may also black out after a fall or blow to the head or due to excess alcohol or street drugs. When the body position changes from lying down to standing, the autonomic nervous system (the part of the brain not under conscious control), increases tone in the blood vessel walls, making them constrict, and at the same time increases the heart rate so that blood can be pumped upward to the brain.
The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians. During the fainting episode, the person may lose conscious, and there may a few twitches, which can be confused with a seizure.
One of the most common causes of fainting is dehydration. Equally as important as immediate management is treating the cause of the fainting. Further tests of your heart and nervous system may be necessary. If the attack happens again or you do not feel completely back to normal, you should also seek urgent medical attention. People who faint usually wake up quickly after collapsing. An electrocardiogram is known by the acronyms "ECG" or "EKG" more commonly used for this noninvasive procedure to record the electrical activity of the heart. Have a blackout while exercising or lying down. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies.
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