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Before learning more about the Syncope causes, you should first know what the condition is all about. What is Syncope? It is something we know more commonly as passing out or fainting. There can be many causes of fainting or fainting symptoms along with varied syncope treatment procedures as well. This is one condition that has to be carefully understood in order to stay healthy and take preventive measures.
What is Syncope or Fainting?
Syncope or fainting means losing consciousness temporarily resulting from a sudden decline in the flow of blood to our brain. Such a thing usually requires only some minutes or seconds. A majority of such episodes are not hugely concerning although frequent fainting may require the doctor’s attention immediately. This is also known as Syncope as mentioned or loss of consciousness or reduced/decreased consciousness along with passing out.Â
Some of the pre-fainting symptoms include feeling clammy/cold, light-headed, dizzy, nauseous, sweaty, hot, weak, anxious or stressed and so on. Someone fainting may sometimes fall down or have a severe headache along with having changes in vision including black or whiteouts or seeing stars as well. They hear a ringing sound in the ears along with losing control of the muscles alongside.Â
Top 4 Causes of Syncope (Fainting)
There could be a few causes of fainting that you should learn more about, before venturing into possible syncope treatments. Fainting may happen due to a sudden blood pressure fall, leading to a lower flow of oxygen and blood to your brain. There are several reasons leading to this loss of consciousness in case of a blood pressure dip:
- Carotid Sinus Syncope: It takes place when the neck’s carotid artery gets pinched or constricted. The blood vessel supplying the brain gets constricted if someone is wearing a really tight collar or has stretched the neck excessively or even has a neck bone that pinches the artery in question.Â
- Cardiac Syncope:Â This means fainting owing to heart issues. Several conditions may impact the amount of oxygenated blood that is pumped to your brain.Â
- Situational Syncope:Â This happens from specific body functions or movements leading to a blood pressure drop. This may lead to periodic fainting as well.Â
- Vasovagal Syncope:Â This may take place when someone witnesses something that is really stressful. This includes seeing any blood, emotional anxiety or stress, emotional or physical trauma, pain and so on. This leads to a reflex action that is known as the vasovagal reaction. The heart eventually slows down and pumps a lower quantity of blood, leading to a reduction in blood pressure levels. Hence, the brain does not get ample oxygenated blood and the individual faints as a result.Â
9 Other Reasons for Syncope (Fainting)
Some other reasons behind fainting include the following:Â
- Specific medicines such as calcium channel blockers, water pills or diuretics, ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, heart ailment nitrates, antihistamines for specific allergies, antipsychotics for battling mental health issues and pain-relieving medication.Â
- Overheating or dehydration among other conditions.Â
- Neurologic ailments including seizure-linked disorders although this is a rare condition.Â
- Sudden blood sugar fluctuations or drops which are often witnessed in the case of those suffering from diabetes.Â
- Skipping meals frequently.Â
- Hyperventilation or breathing excessively fast.Â
- Playing, engaging in physical activity or working out excessively harder, particularly when you are outdoors in the heat and sunlight.Â
- Standing up suddenly.Â
- Consumption of marijuana, alcohol and illegal medicines/drugs.
10 Common Symptoms of Syncope
Here are the top warning signs of fainting, you might feel as mentioned below:-
- Cold and clammy
- Dizzy
- Lightheaded
- Hot and suddenly sweaty
- Nauseous
- Stressed out or anxious
- Weakness
- Headache
- Have vision changes
- Lose control of your muscles
When to See the Doctor?
You should talk to the doctor for signs like pain in the chest, blurry vision, irregular heartbeat, trouble in talking or confusion along with shortness of breath and losing control of bowel movements or urination. Fainting or Syncope should be reported to the doctor if you are already managing diabetes if you are pregnant and also if you have any issue with your blood pressure or heart. These are some points that you should always keep in mind.
If someone faints, then you should make sure that the airway is clear and also that he or she is breathing properly. You should check whether the heart is beating properly and call the emergency number for seeking medical attention swiftly. If the individual wakes up after fainting, then get the person to sit down or lie on the bed for 10-15 minutes. Check for any accompanying injuries like cuts or injuries to the head. Make the person sit in a forward-facing stance and lower the head position below the knees and shoulders. You can also provide cold water or ice in this regard. You can make a note of specific activities or circumstances which lead to fainting. When you know the reason, then you can bypass such situations. If you notice that fainting arises due to standing up suddenly, then avoid the same. If you can track the feeling just before fainting, then you can prevent the same by tensing the arms, making a fist, squeezing the thighs and crossing the legs. If you have fainted but have recovered swiftly and are in good medical condition, then you may not consult the doctor immediately. However, for any injuries due to falling down while fainting, frequent or repeated episodes of fainting or longer durations for regaining consciousness, you should consult the doctor right away. Brain tumors may cause weakness on one side of the body or face, clumsiness, dizziness, loss of balance, or stumbling. You may need to make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a doctor who specializes in the brain and nervous system (neurologist) to treat dizzinessFAQs on Causes of Syncope (Fainting)
What are the treatment and care aspects for fainting or dizziness?
Is it possible to combat fainting?
When should the doctor be called in order to prevent fainting?
Do brain tumors cause dizziness?
What kind of doctor do I see for dizziness?
