Fainting spells: How to recognize and deal with them
Fainting can happen for many different reasons. Generally, it is caused by decreased blood flow to your brain. Your blood carries oxygen to all parts of your body. When blood flow is not enough, your brain does not get enough oxygen and you “black out.”
Your brain is very sensitive to low oxygen supply. Hence, any condition that may cause a temporary decreased oxygen supply to your brain may cause you to temporarily lose consciousness. It may only last a few minutes, but it may seem forever when you are witnessing a loved one that is losing consciousness. It helps to understand the common causes so you can act to help immediately.
The causes of fainting can be related to certain activities or positions, or a body’s response to certain stimulus. In older people, sudden change is positioning such as abrupt standing from sitting may cause a sudden demand of oxygen that the body cannot react to meet the demand fast enough. Sometimes, a sudden drop in blood pressure from coughing or bearing down so hard may cause a fainting episode.
If you fainted once when you coughed too hard or you stood up too fast, you may have nothing to worry about, if you generally have a good health status. But if you fainted a few times, I urge you to consult with your healthcare practitioner.
Fainting maybe caused by a disease process such as diabetes or heart problems. Low blood sugar, for example, may also cause a fainting episode. In some cases, an irregularity in the electrical conduction in the heart may cause the heart to pump blood inadequately causing a fainting episode.
The most common causes include:
• Standing up too fast.
• Working hard or playing hard, especially if it’s very hot.
• Breathing too fast.
• Getting very upset. Being upset affect the nerves that control your blood pressure.
• Taking medications to control your high blood pressure. Sometimes, it can lower your blood pressure too much and consequently decreasing oxygen supply to your brain.
• Pressure in the neck such as a tight collar.
• Severe pain, injury or fright.
• Strenuous coughing or straining.
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that you see your doctor if fainting is associated by these features:
• Irregular heart beat.
• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Sudden onset (no warning signs).
• Blurred vision.
• Confusion.
• Trouble talking.
• Fainting when you turn your head (it can be caused by a pinched nerve).
• Fainting more than once in a month.
Sometimes it is hard to determine the specific cause of a fainting episode. It is important that you give your health care provider a good history. Your doctor will want to know if your fainting is related to any activity or certain body positions.
Time pattern such as the time it happens and how long it lasted is also important to report. Was there any aggravating event that happened before the fainting episode? Were there other symptoms present before fainting? What medications are you taking? There are diagnostic tests that your health care provider may recommend to find out the specific cause of your fainting episodes.
If you feel lightheaded and seems like you are going to faint, lay down. You may also sit forward with your head bent and touching your knees. These positional maneuvers facilitate blood supply to your sensitive brain.
If you are a witness to a fainting episode, you may also try to cool down the room or move the victim to a cooler area with good air ventilation. Act fast and you may just prevent an expensive emergency room visit.