Adam Felman is an Editor for Medical News Today and Greatist. Outside of work, he is a hearing impaired musician, producer, and rapper who gigs globally. Adam also owns every Nic Cage movie and has a one-eyed hedgehog called Philip K. Prick.\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.medicalnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/06/500x500_Adam_Felman.png","alt":""}}],"medicalReviewers":[{"id":333,"name":{"display":"Heidi Moawad, M.D.","first":"Heidi","last":"Moawad, MD"},"userLogin":"heidimoawad","links":{"website":"http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/","facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-moawad-md-17879aa/","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/reviewers/heidi-moawad-md","type":{"value":"medical_reviewer","label":"Medical Advisor"},"nid":"159928","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"
Dr. Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and teaches at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She serves on the editorial board of Neurology Clinical Practice and is a reviewer for Neurology.\n
Education\n
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Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, MD\n\n
Fainting, or syncope, is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. It usually happens when there is a slight decrease in the amount of oxygen reaching the brain.
Fainting is not usually serious, but sometimes, it can indicate an underlying medical issue. People should treat every case of fainting as a medical emergency until they have uncovered the cause and treated the symptoms.
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness that can occur with or without a serious medical issue. It can cause a person to slump in a chair or fall to the ground. Most people wake up after a few seconds and can remember feeling a little dizzy or sick before fainting.
Health experts associate fainting with decreased oxygen supply to the brain, but usually not to a degree that is dangerous.
Different underlying conditions can cause a person to faint. We discuss some of them in detail below.
Neurocardiogenic syncope
Neurocardiogenic, or reflex, syncope happens when a temporary problem arises with the autonomous nervous system (ANS). The ANS is the system that controls the body’s automatic functions, such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
Health experts also refer to neurocardiogenic syncope as neurally mediated syncope (NMS) or vasovagal syncope.
In NMS, a drop in blood pressure slows the heartbeat and pulse rate. This temporarily affects the brain’s blood and oxygen supply.
engaging in physical activity, such as exercising or lifting a heavy weight
standing for a long time
Carotid sinus syndrome
This is also a type of NMS. 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.
Activities that can put pressure on the carotid sinus include:
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. This stabilizes blood pressure, but it can reduce blood and oxygen supply to the brain, resulting in fainting.
If a person faints and may have one of these conditions, they should seek medical attention. A doctor will likely recommend monitoring and possibly treatment for the condition.
People sometimes distinguish between episodes of fainting by describing them as syncope or presyncope, also called near syncope.
One definition of presyncope, or near syncope, is “a feeling that you were going to faint but did not.†A person has symptoms that typically occur before fainting, but they do not lose consciousness. An episode can last from several seconds up to a few minutes.
In syncope, the person experiences similar symptoms but also loses consciousness.
Experts say these terms can be confusing, as doctors may use different definitions. Whether a person experiences syncope or near syncope, they may benefit from seeking medical advice.
Research suggests syncope and near syncope have similar outcomes, and the underlying cause is likely to be the same.
If a person loses consciousness for more than a few minutes, this may be a sign of a seizure or another neurological problem. A person should seek medical attention if this happens.
Individuals who faint are unlikely to lose bowel or bladder control. If this happens, it may be a sign of a stroke.
According to a 2020 review, fainting is common in children, affecting around 15% of those aged under 18 years at some time. Most causes are benign. In some cases, however, the underlying cause will need addressing.
The same review found that the most common cause was NMS, or reflex syncope. Common triggers include standing for a long time and emotional distress. The second most common cause was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, where the heart beats faster when a person stands up.
In most cases, an appropriate intake of fluids and electrolytes is enough to resolve fainting in children, although some may need other types of medication.
Breath-holding and fainting in infants
Sometimes, an infant or child may faint after holding their breath for up to 1 minute. The child may do this when they are upset or afraid or experience a shock or pain.
They may:
cry and then be silent while holding their breath
open their mouth as if to cry, but remain silent
lose consciousness for 1–2 minutes
In most cases, the child will regain consciousness, and the incident will pass. However, someone should seek emergency medical help if the child:
appears blue or gray
becomes floppy
is shaking, stiff, or jerking, which may be a sign of a seizure
cannot be woken
Whoever is with the child should:
remain calm
stay with the child
lay them on their side, away from anything that could injure them
reassure them and encourage them to rest afterward
This type of fainting is not uncommon. Children who experience it will usually do so only until they are 4–5 years old.
If fainting could be due to an underlying health condition, a person should seek medical attention.
A doctor will likely carry out investigations, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), to rule out problems such as heart disease. Depending on the results, the person may need treatment.
If an individual with a known underlying health condition faints, it may be that their medications need adjusting or that symptoms have progressed. Addressing the underlying cause can help prevent future episodes and manage the underlying condition.
People who are likely to faint at the sight or thought of an injection or blood can tell a healthcare professional before undergoing a medical procedure that may involve this. The professional can then ensure the individual is in a safe position, such as lying down, before starting the procedure.
If a person faints and does not have a health condition, they may be able to prevent future episodes by avoiding triggers, such as standing for a long time.
People who feel faint on standing up may benefit from:
ensuring they take time to sit up or stand up
wearing compression stockings
avoiding medications that worsen the problem, such as diuretics
In some cases, a doctor may recommend intravenous (IV) fluids or medications to prevent fainting. An IV fluid or medication is one that a healthcare professional administers into a vein.
People who feel themselves becoming faint should do the following:
Find a safe place to sit or lie down.
When sitting, place their head between their knees.
When standing up again, do so slowly.
If a person notices that somebody is fainting, has fainted, or is about to faint, they can help by doing the following:
Help the person lie down on their back.
Check for any injuries.
Raise their legs above heart level to restore blood flow to the brain.
Ensure there is plenty of fresh air.
If there is a crowd, ask other people to move away.
When the person regains consciousness, do not let them get up too quickly.
If they remain unconscious for more than about 1 minute, put them in the recovery position and get emergency medical help.
If the person is not breathing or remains unresponsive, someone should call for emergency help and prepare to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if they know how to do it:
Check for coughing or movement.
Make sure that the airway is clear.
If there is no sign of breathing or circulation, start CPR.
Continue CPR until either help arrives or the person starts breathing on their own.
Put them in the recovery position and stay with them until help comes.
If the individual is bleeding after the fall, apply direct pressure to the wound to help control the bleeding.
the person’s medical history and any medications they take regularly
details of any previous episodes
whether they have a family history of heart disease
what the person was doing and where they were just before fainting occurred
any other symptoms
The doctor will listen to the heart to check for underlying cardiac conditions. If they suspect a heart problem, the person may need to consult a heart specialist, or cardiologist.
Fainting is a common event that can occur for many reasons, ranging from being in a crowded space to having a health condition, such as heart failure. It happens when too little oxygen reaches the brain.
In most cases, fainting is not a cause for concern. However, if it stems from an underlying condition, a person may need treatment to address the problem.
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