Common Causes
Method 2 Method 2 of 2: Dealing With Your Own Fainting Download Article
- Learn to recognize the signs of an oncoming fainting spell. ...
- Find somewhere to lie down if you feel about to faint. Raise your legs to encourage blood flow to the brain.
- Breathe deeply. ...
- Call for help. ...
- Try to stay safe if you do faint. ...
- Take some preventative steps to avoid fainting in the future. ...
- Consult a doctor if the problem continues. ...
Related Conditions
- Let the person lay on the ground and rest for at least 15-20 minutes. ...
- Give the person room to breathe and fan the victim with fresh air. ...
- Give the person water and/or food once they are conscious and stable; food and water will help revive them. ...
- Do not let the person get up too quickly. ...
What should you do after fainting?
What to Do When Someone Faints.
- If you see someone faint, lie the person on his or her back and make sure they are breathing. ...
- Loosen all constrictive clothing such as collars or belts.
- If the person is not breathing, start CPR. ...
- Continue with CPR until help arrives.
- When the person regains consciousness, allow them to rest rather than sitting or getting up immediately.
What is the recovery time for fainting?
If someone faints: Lay them down. Kneel by them. Raise their legs. Give them fresh air and monitor them. If slow to recover, treat as unresponsive.
How to help someone who has fainted?
What to do if someone faints?
Which procedure should not be done for a person who has fainted?
Note: If the person vomits while he/she is unconscious, quickly turn him/her to allow the fluid to drain while protecting the person's airway. Do not attempt to give an unconscious person anything by mouth. Do not shake or slap a person who has fainted to attempt to make him/her regain consciousness.
What is the fastest way to recover from fainting?
When a person faints, they suffer a brief loss of consciousness. It is recommended that you lay the person down and elevate their feet. Most people will recover quickly after fainting once they lay down because more blood can flow to your brain. It also helps to loosen any constrictive clothing.
What is the most common reason for fainting?
The most common reason for fainting is a sudden drop in blood pressure, which reduces blood flow and oxygen to the brain. There are many reasons why a drop in blood pressure could lead to a temporary loss of consciousness: Cardiac syncope: This type of syncope involves fainting due to a heart problem.
What happens to your brain when you faint?
The name of the condition refers to increased activity of the vagal nerve which signals the heart to slow down and for blood vessels (“vaso-“) to open up. This combination of effects leads to a drop in blood pressure and too little blood flow to the brain.
How Are Fainting Spells Evaluated?
If you have episodes of fainting, your doctor will first want a complete description of the symptoms and events surrounding these episodes. For instance, the doctor may ask:
What Are the Treatments for Fainting?
If you are with someone who faints, there are a number of things you should do. If they are sitting, carefully support them in a bent position, with their head between their knees.
How to help someone who faints?
If someone else faints 1 Position the person on his or her back. If there are no injuries and the person is breathing, raise the person's legs above heart level — about 12 inches (30 centimeters) — if possible. Loosen belts, collars or other constrictive clothing.#N#To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get the person up too quickly. If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call 911 or your local emergency number. 2 Check for breathing. If the person isn't breathing, begin CPR. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Continue CPR until help arrives or the person begins to breathe.
What to do if you can't breathe?
If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call 911 or your local emergency number. Check for breathing. If the person isn't breathing, begin CPR. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Continue CPR until help arrives or the person begins to breathe.
Is it a medical emergency to faint?
Fainting might have no medical significance. Or the cause can be a serious disorder, often involving the heart. Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the signs and symptoms are relieved, and the cause is known. Talk to your doctor if you faint more than once.
What are the two types of fainting?
Types. Apart from distinguishing episodes of fainting by their underlying cause, one of two different types of fainting might occur: Pre- or near-syncope : This occurs when a person can remember events or sensations during the loss of consciousness, such as dizziness, blurred vision, and muscle weakness.
What causes a person to faint?
arrhythmias, or an abnormal heartbeat. stenosis, or a blockage of the heart valves. hypertension, or high blood pressure. a heart attack, in which the heart muscle dies due to lack of blood and oxygen. This cause of fainting usually requires immediate medical treatment and extensive monitoring.
What does it mean when you faint when you stand up?
Orthostatic hypotension refers to fainting after standing up too quickly from a seated or horizontal position. Gravity pulls blood into the legs, bringing down blood pressure elsewhere in the body. The nervous system usually reacts to this by increasing the heartbeat and narrowing the blood vessels.
Why does the brain fade?
Fainting is the body’s way of preserving oxygen in the brain. Fainting usually results from a lack of oxygen to the brain, such as from problems with the lungs or blood circulation or carbon monoxide poisoning. Fainting is a survival mechanism.
What are the triggers of syncope?
Triggers include: laughing or swallowing. passing stools or urine. coughing or sneezing. strenuous physical activities, such as lifting a heavy weight.
What does it mean when you faint?
Underlying causes. Types. Symptoms. Treatment. What to do if somebody faints. Diagnosis. Fainting, or syncope, is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. This usually occurs due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.
Can a carotid sinus cause fainting?
Carotid sinus syndrome: The carotid artery is the main artery that supplies blood to the brain. When there is pressure on the pressure sensors, or carotid sinus, in the carotid artery, it can cause fainting.
How to stop fainting when you get blood drawn?
Always get up slowly from a sitting or lying-down position. If you tend to feel faint at the sight of blood when getting your blood drawn or during other medical procedures, tell your doctor. They can take certain precautions to prevent you from fainting. Lastly, don’t skip meals.
What does it mean when you faint?
Understanding fainting. Fainting happens when you lose consciousness for a short amount of time because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. The medical term for fainting is syncope, but it’s more commonly known as “passing out.”. A fainting spell generally lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, weak, ...
What causes fainting in the body?
Fainting can be triggered by a number of factors, including: fear or other emotional trauma. severe pain. a sudden drop in blood pressure. low blood sugar due to diabetes. hyperventilation. dehydration. standing in one position for too long.
What to do if you have passed out multiple times?
Even people who only pass out once should at least get an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which records the electrical activity of your heart.
How do you know if you're fainting?
Feeling lightheaded and weak and having the sensation of spinning are warning signs of fainting. If you notice any of these signs, sit and put your head between your knees to help get blood to your brain. You could also lie down to avoid injury due to falling. Don’t stand up until you feel better.
What to do when you are unconscious?
A cool, quiet place is best. A cool drink of water may also help. Learn more about first aid tips for unconsciousness. If the person isn’t breathing, immediately call 911 or your local emergency services.
What to give your doctor for a medical history?
Be prepared to give your doctor a complete medical history, including information about previously diagnosed conditions and any prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications you take. Depending on the findings from a physical examination, your doctor may order additional tests.
What to do after regaining consciousness?
Hence, after the person regains consciousness, give water mixed with electoral powder, fruit juices, water with sugar and salt or lemon juice as it helps in maintaining electrolyte balance. Also read things you should not do when suffering from dehydration . 6.
How to revive a person who is breathing?
Loosen the belts, collars, scarfs and jackets to improve air flow. 4. Try to revive the person by talking to the person loudly or tapping him/her. Also, feel the pulse and check the breathing to ensure that the person is breathing normally. 5.
How to get blood flow to the brain?
1. Firstly, make the person lie in a supine position (lying straight on the back) and elevate the legs as it helps in improving blood flow to the brain. 2. Do call for assistance if you are too scared or are clueless about what to do. If the place is crowded, disperse the crowd and move the person to a well-ventilated place.
How to stop bleeding from a cut?
Also, if a person has fallen on any sharp surface or is bleeding, then stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure. Read more on first aid for cuts and bleeding. Image Source: Shutterstock.
How to stop someone from fainting?
If possible, try to prevent someone who is fainting from hitting the ground. Lay the person down on the ground, face up, and elevate his/her feet 8–12 inches. Loosen any constrictive clothing. Apply a cool, wet compress to the person's forehead. Attempt to keep the person from standing up until fully recovered.
What to do if you faint and don't regain consciousness?
While not typical, fainting can be a sign of serious illness, so seek treatment by a medical professional to determine the cause and provide proper treatment.
What is the term for a person who is not alert or fully responsive to his/her surroundings?
Overview. Fainting is a form of unconsciousness that is quick and brief, often due to low blood sugar or standing in one place for too long. Fainting can also be caused by a more serious medical matter. Unconsciousness is an abnormal state in which a person is not alert and not fully responsive to his/her surroundings.
What causes a person to faint?
People with the following medical conditions are at an increased risk of fainting: 1 Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) 2 Anemia 3 Any condition in which there is a rapid loss of blood, such as from internal bleeding 4 Heart and circulatory problems 5 Heat stroke or heat exhaustion 6 Eating disorders (eg, anorexia and bulimia) 7 Toxic shock syndrome
Why do doctors conduct tests for fainting?
As fainting can be caused by many underlying conditions, the physician will conduct tests to determine the scope and treat the illness or injury accordingly. Table of Contents Overview Who's at Risk Signs and Symptoms When to Seek Medical Care Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe.
What are the symptoms of fainting?
Signs and Symptoms. A person who faints often experiences dizziness, nausea, weakness, and/ or blurred vision prior to losing consciousness, and they may have cold, clammy, pale skin. The person may be disoriented, incoherent, motionless, and silent.
Can you shake someone who fainted?
Do not shake or slap a person who has fainted to attempt to make him/her regain consciousness. If the person was injured while fainting, give first aid for any injuries (eg, bumps, bruises, or cuts) accordingly. Bleeding should be stopped with direct pressure.
What does it mean when you faint?
When you faint, you become unconscious for a few seconds. It is also called passing out or blacking out. The medical term for this is syncope. You may feel sick and sweaty first or pass out with no warning at all. When you pass out, you fall to the ground.
Why do I faint when I'm a teenager?
In older people, fainting is more likely to be due to an underlying heart problem, low blood pressure or as a side-effect of medication .
Why do I faint when I lay down?
It is important to seek medical attention if you experience faints. Faints may be caused by a serious problem. However, this is very unusual unless you are aged over 40 or they have happened while you were lying down or during exercise. The most common causes are mentioned below. Fainting. Collapse. In this article.
Why do I faint when I exercise?
Cardiac syncope: this occurs due to an underlying heart problem. There may be a family history of sudden death. The faint may be preceded by chest pain or the sensation of having a 'thumping heart' (palpitations) and may happen during exercise.
What is it called when you lose consciousness?
It comes on suddenly, only lasts for a short time and you recover fully within a short time. It is also often called a blackout. The medical term is syncope. It isn't the same thing as a seizure which usually causes jerking.
Does DVLA have to be informed of faint?
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not have to be informed of a simple faint but greater restrictions apply if the situation is more complicated or if diagnosis is less clear.
What to do if you faint?
What you should do. The bottom line is that you need medical evaluation if you faint—or if you feel repeatedly as if you are about to faint. Note carefully any symptoms you remember before or after you pass out. Ask anyone who may have seen you faint describe to you what they saw.
Why does my brain faint?
Fainting usually is caused by a temporary drop in blood pressure. During that brief drop, the brain does not get the blood flow that it needs—and you lose consciousness. One serious cause of this drop in blood pressure is bleeding, such as in the stomach or intestines, or from a rupture of the body's main artery, the aorta.
Is fainting a sign of serious illness?
While often the cause of fainting is something minor, fainting also can be a sign of a serious underlying medical concern. "The problem is that you can't evaluate yourself, and you should let a physician determine if fainting is worrisome or not," says Dr. Shamai Grossman, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School, ...
Can you faint while passing urine?
It can occur if you strain while having a bowel movement (or, for men, while passing urine), have blood drawn, get an injection, hear bad news, or even laugh too hard. These kinds of fainting episodes commonly affect young people but can occur in older adults.
Can you be hospitalized for vasovagal syncope?
Young adults with symptoms indicating vasovagal syncope often are not hospitalized. However, patients ages 50 and older in the United States often are admitted for testing, because the serious causes of fainting become more common in older people.
