• About Cholesterol
• About Diabetes
• About EEG test
• About EEMG test
• About Epilepsy
• About Fainting(Syncope)
• About Headaches
• About Myasthenia Gravis
• About Parkinson's disease
• About Peripheral Neurothrapy
• About Spondylosis
• About Stroke
• About Oral Anticoagulants

Fainting (syncope) is a symptom and not a disease. It occurs due to temporary reduction of blood supply to the brain. There are many different reasons for fainting.

Usually fainting is not caused by a serious or life-threatening medical problem. One of the most common and least worrisome reasons for fainting is due to anxiety or emotional upset, called vasovagal syncope. Fainting occurs following sudden stress (for example seeing an accident), severe pain or prolonged standing in a hot crowded room. As people age, the ability of the nervous system to control blood pressure becomes less sensitive. This worsens if you have not had enough liquids or you are taking medicines such as blood pressure lowering drugs, antidepressants and antipsychotics. Rising from lying to standing position, or standing for a long time, may cause a fall in blood pressure. This condition is called as orthostatic hypotension. Temporary pressure on a sensitive spot in the neck, low blood sugar and anemia may also cause fainting.

However there are a few serious causes for fainting. These include heart problems, internal bleeding and stroke. Irregular heart rhythms are the most common heart-related cause of fainting. The heart may either beat too rapidly or too slowly so that little blood reaches the brain. Damage to the pumping muscle or heart valves may also cause fainting.

Before you faint, you may feel nausea, excess sweating, giddiness, lightheadedness, dimness of vision, prominent heartbeat or flushing. Or, you may faint suddenly without any symptoms.

Your doctor will ask about the details regarding your fainting episodes. How you felt before and after each episode is important and can help in making the diagnosis. An eyewitness account is very important. You should provide an accurate list of medicines that you are taking.
Depending on your age and health history, your doctor may want to do some tests.

• If a seizure is suspected an electroencephalogram (EEG) may be done.
• A brain scan may be done depending on your symptoms.
• If a heart problem is suspected, you may have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done. The ECG records the electrical impulses from your heart.
• Depending on your symptoms and the ECG, your doctor may want to monitor your heart for a longer period of time using a Holter monitor. This will record your heart rhythm for 1 to 3 days continuously.
• An echocardiogram, a type of ultrasound scan of the heart, may be done to see if there are any problems with the heart muscle or the heart valves.
• A tilt table test helps to diagnose orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope. In this test, your blood pressure is repeatedly measured while the table on which you are lying is progressively tilted toward the head-up position.
• Sometimes your doctor may order a test of the electrical system of the heart called an Electrophysiology study

Even with all these tests, the exact cause for fainting may not be uncovered.

The treatment of fainting is according to the cause.

• If vasovagal syncope is the problem, pay attention to what happens just before you faint. When you have these symptoms, take immediate precautions such as lying down, to avoid a fainting episode.
• Orthostatic hypotension can be prevented by a careful review of your present medicines, taking plenty of fluids and by certain medications. Use of elastic stockings and getting up slowly from lying or sitting also helps.