Why do people faint?
Fainting is usually caused by a drop in blood pressure, which reduces blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Most of the time fainting is not a thing to be worried about. However, if you repeatedly lose consciousness or have other symptoms, see your doctor. The following is a list of common reasons why people faint.
- Illness
- Medications
- Internal ear imbalance
- Migraines
- Dehydration
- Traumas
- Deficiencies
What are the types of fainting?
There are different types of syncope. The three most common types include:
- Vasovagal syncope: Vagus nerve is involved in vasovagal syncope. It can be caused by emotional trauma, stress, the sight of blood, or standing for long periods of time.
- Situational syncope: This type occurs when you get strain during coughing, urinating, defecation, or gastrointestinal problems.
- Carotid sinus syncope: This type occurs when the carotid artery narrows, usually after turning the head to the side or wearing a collar that is too tight.
What are the causes of fainting?
Many times the causes of fainting are not clear. Fainting can be caused by a number of factors including:
- Seizures
- Consuming drugs or alcohol
- Dehydration
- Standing up too quickly
- Hyperventilation
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- Severe pain
- Trauma
There is a chance of fainting if you take some medicines to treat the following conditions:
- high blood pressure
- allergies
- depression
- anxiety
How is the diagnosis done?
The physician will inquire about:
- The patient’s medical history and any regular medicines if they take.
- Information about any prior episodes of fainting.
- Whether there is a history of heart disease in their family
- What the individual was doing and where they were immediately before passing out
- Other symptoms
The doctor will proceed to further tests which can include:
- ECG
- Echocardiogram
- Exercise stress test
- Holter monitor test
- Blood tests
When can a person faint?
You may faint without warning. However, there are some signs that you may have symptoms that may lead to fainting. These include:
- A patient says he has nausea
- Frequent yawning
- Anxiety
- Complaints of light-headedness or dizziness
- Your skin may feel pale, cool, damp, and sweaty
- Complaints of chest tightness
- Having palpitations
What should you do when a person faints?
If you or someone with you feels like you are going to faint, you should immediately squat, sit, or lie down. When sitting, put your head between your knees. All of these positions facilitate blood flow to the brain as the heart is not working against gravity.
- If you see someone pass out, put them on their back and make sure they are breathing. If possible, raise the person’s legs above the heart level so the blood flows easily to the brain.
- Loosen tight collars, belts, etc.
- If the patient is not breathing, begin CPR. Have someone call her on 911. Continue CPR until help arrives.
- If the person regains consciousness, do not sit down or stand up immediately.
- If they are diabetic and miss meals, sucking on candy or candies can help raise their blood sugar levels.
- Make sure the fainted person is not having convulsions or unusual muscle spasms, as this may show fitting.
What to avoid when a person faints?
Watching someone pass out on TV or in a movie often accompanies a funny event and others on the scene react in an equally fun way. However, these answers are purely fictitious and should never be used in real-life situations. You must never, for example:
- Slap someone who fainted
- Shake the deceased
- Throw water on the person
- Shout at them
- Try to move them
- Put a pillow under his head
- Make them sit or stand
How can you prevent fainting?
- If you have a history of fainting, try to figure out what caused you to faint so you can avoid these triggers.
- Never get up fast from a sitting or lying position. If you tend to faint when you see blood during blood tests or during other medical procedures, tell your doctor. They will take certain precautions for preventing you from fainting.
- Visit Texas Specialty Clinic, our professionals will take suitable precautions for your fainting condition.
- Feeling dizzy, weak, and lightheaded feeling are warning signs of fainting. If you notice any of these signs, sit down and rest your head between your knees to help pump blood to your brain.
- You can also lie down to avoid injuries. Get up after feeling better.
- Finally, don’t skip meals.
When to visit a doctor?
If you pass out once and are fine, you probably don’t need to talk to a medical professional. But see your doctor if you:
- Injured after falling unconscious.
- There are frequent and repeated episodes of fainting.
- It took more than a few minutes to feel conscious.
If you fall unconscious visit Texas Specialty Clinics immediately after that, our doctor will treat you better, book an appointment by dialing (469) 545-9983.