Help, Nan’s fainted!

Feeling faint is caused by a variety of triggers that can result in reduced supply of blood, oxygen or glucose to the brain. Eating a large meal, meaning blood is diverted away from your main circulation to help with digestion, can also make you feel faint. If faintness is due to overbreathing (eg, anxiety or panic attack), slowing down breathing or breathing in and out of cupped hands (to reinhale carbon dioxide) helps. If someone feels faint, get them to lie down – this helps restore blood flow to the head, and ensures they can’t injure themselves by falling. Raising legs up on a few cushions helps to restore blood flow, too. If you think it might be something more than a simple faint, seek medical advice.