Fainting

Is this your symptom?

• Fainting is a sudden brief loss of consciousness with falling down
• Feeling suddenly sick or sweaty; dizzy or light-headed
• A return to being awake and alert happens within 1 minute
• Also called passing out or blacking out

Fainting Basics

• Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. Normal awareness returns in less than 1 minute if the person is allowed to lie down.
• If standing, the person falls to the ground.
• If sitting, the person slumps over. Lie them down on the ground if possible. Take care not to injure them as you lower them to the ground.
• The medical name for fainting is syncope.
• Fainting can happen at any age.
• Causes: for people under the age of 40, it is most often a simple faint. In older adults, serious causes are much more common. These need to be ruled out by a doctor.
• Cause of Simple Fainting: decreased blood flow to the brain.
• Risk Factors: mild dehydration, fasting, hot weather, lack of sleep, recent illness, change in altitude.
• Most fainting is harmless. There is a risk of a head or face injury from sudden falling.

Simple Fainting (Benign Fainting): Types

• Standing too long in one place before fainting is the most common type. The medical name is orthostatic or postural syncope. Happens at church, graduations, weddings or at events when standing a long time. More common if one keeps the knees "locked." This pools the blood in the leg veins. A person who stands long enough in one place will faint.
• Standing up quickly(often after lying down) before fainting is a less common cause. Often this just causes a person to feel dizzy for a short time. More common in the morning after not eating or drinking during the night.
• Sudden stressful feelings before fainting. This is called vasovagal syncope. Seeing a badly injured person or pet can trigger fainting. Also, stressful events such as speaking or performing in public can cause fainting.
• Sudden physical pain before fainting such as getting a shot or a blood test. Having slivers or stiches taken out can also trigger fainting. The stress of the event may cause the fainting rather than the pain itself.
• Orthostatic Hypotension is a drop in blood pressure upon standing up. It can occur in the following circumstances:
• Medication taken to lower blood pressure
• Dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea or heat exposure
• Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or peripheral neuropathy
• After a big meal
• Feeling faint in pregnancy. This may happen if you stand up quickly. Take your time getting up to your feet. Sit back down again if you feel light headed or dizzy. You may also feel faint if you are lying on your back during the later stages of pregnancy. The weight of the uterus, and baby slow the blood flow back to your heart and this causes you to feel faint. If that happens, turn over and lie on your side. If the faint feeling does not pass quickly, call your doctor right away.
• Cardiac Syncope due to an heart problem with symptoms including:
• Chest pain prior to fainting
• Rapid or irregular pulse
• Sensation of thumping heart (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting during exercise

Other Serious Causes of Fainting:

• Epilepsy
• Stroke or mini stroke (transient ischemic attacks)
• Blood loss - large amount or bleeding inside the body
• Concussion or head injury
• Sudden drop in blood sugar. Mainly happens in people with diabetes.
• Poisoning
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Seizure

Warning Signs For Simple Fainting

• Dizziness (light-headed), blurred vision, nausea, sweating, feeling cold.
• These last for 5 to 10 seconds before passing out.
• The person may look pale just before passing out.