If you have fainted before and recognize the signs, here are some things you can do to restore blood flow to the brain before you actually pass out. If you have epilepsy or other conditions that can cause seizures, you should follow the treatment plan from your neurologist. If you do not have a treatment plan or are unsure of what to do, call your neurologist right away to see what they recommend. You may not remember what was happening just before you fainted or immediately after you awakened. Talk to anyone who may have seen you faint to find out what they noticed just before, during, and after the event.
Heart-Related Causes
They will diagnose the underlying cardiaccauses of syncope (fainting). Their expertise allows them to develop targeted treatment plans tailored to your condition. Those who are pregnant, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes should also inform their doctor if they experience any fainting or loss of consciousness. A person experiences fainting when a lack of oxygen to the brain causes momentary loss of consciousness. After they are lying down, most people will recover quickly. Syncope (fainting or passing out) is a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness.
This article explains the symptoms of fainting and many possible reasons why it can happen. It details diagnosis and treatment options, and offers some tips on how fainting may be prevented. If you faint a lot, you should visit your doctor to make sure it is not from an underlying health condition.
The Difference Between Fainting and Seizures
While fainting is often harmless, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying heart disease or heart condition. Cardiac-related fainting, also known as cardiac syncope, occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the brain. This can be due to various heart problems, including arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), structural heart defects, or issues with heart valves.
- Usually, these symptoms happen just before a person faints.
- According to one survey, over half of undergraduate college students have blacked out from drinking at least once in their lives.
- Too little water in the bloodstream lowers blood pressure, and stimulating the vagus nerve when the system is already low can lead to dizziness and fainting.
- Symptoms before unconsciousness include dizziness, sweating, pale skin, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.
- Usually, fainting happens for a reason, like when you’re in pain or have been standing for a long time in a hot place.
- When taken in large amounts, or combined inappropriately, they can cause blood pressure to drop too low, which, as Dr. Pallone explains, can cause fainting.
Anadolu Medical Center
Turn their head to the side, so that their tongue does not accidentally block their breathing, and so that any vomit will not cause choking. You may try reviving them by putting a cold, wet washcloth on their face or neck. People who have a seizure may urinate or have a bowel movement while it is happening. They are often confused and extremely weak for several hours after regaining consciousness. When you are able to move, move slowly from one position to the next.
Harvard Health Annual – 2025
But in some cases, your doctor may want to evaluate you further for a heart or brain problem. A loss of consciousness can also be caused by abnormal heart rhythms. This is when there is a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system that fainting: causes, symptoms and when to see a doctor regulates your heartbeat. Syncope can develop due to various cardiovascular, neurological, and mental conditions. To understand the cause of syncope, other accompanying symptoms are assessed, and a detailed examination of the patient is conducted. Despite all these investigations, the exact cause of approximately one-third of syncope cases remains unclear.
Vasovagal syncope (common faints)
In this article, I will cover the various types of fainting, potential causes, warning signs, and more. While there’s no official diet for vertigo, too many salty foods might trigger these symptoms in people who have Meniere’s disease. Getting enough vitamin D may also help improve BPPV symptoms. However, most people do go on to experience symptom relief, sometimes without the need for treatment. Vertigo is sometimes a symptom of a stroke, particularly brain stem strokes. For mild to moderate strokes, vertigo may improve several weeks later during overall stroke recovery.
Types of Fainting
- However, your doctor may want to conduct further tests to determine if the fainting is related to a heart or brain problem.
- People who have passed out usually wake up quickly after collapsing, but in some cases, fainting is a sign of a serious or potentially life-threatening condition.
- A blackout from intoxication is due to a brain malfunction.
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s experts can help uncover why it’s happening.
There are numerous possible causes of dizziness, many of which improve on their own with lifestyle changes. Chronic or severe symptoms should always be checked out by a doctor. Dizziness and giddiness are broad terms used to refer to lightheadedness and unsteadiness. They are also sometimes used to describe vertigo, which refers to feelings of spinning. It’s important to see a doctor if your dizziness and giddiness do not improve with lifestyle changes, or if you’re experiencing worsening or recurring symptoms.
These include bowel movements, coughing, moving too quickly from a sitting to a standing position, and stretching. You should also seek medical attention if you sustain a falling injury from fainting, remain unconscious longer than a few minutes, or experience frequent fainting spells. However, if you’ve experienced a syncope episode and continue to experience symptoms after you’ve regained consciousness, seek medical attention. You may recover quickly after fainting, but even if you do, it’s best to visit your doctor to check the cause.
You may not always be able to avoid a vasovagal syncope episode. If you feel like you might faint, lie down and lift your legs. If you can’t lie down, sit down and put your head between your knees until you feel better.