Fainting
Fainting is also known as passing out or syncope. Fainting might be a reason behind reduced blood flow to the brain, and the body loses consciousness for a short while, but it doesn’t mean it’s something severe. Episodes of fainting may last for a few seconds or minutes. Fainting often might be a reason for other symptoms, and it is better to seek a medical professional during the episodes.
Reasons for fainting
- Low or high blood pressure
- A sudden drop in sugar levels
- Skipping meals
- Playing or exercising hard
- Neurologic condition
- Having high temperature
- Being angry or in severe pain
- Heart problems
- Intake of drugs or alcohol
- Dehydration
Symptoms of fainting
- Cold skin
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Vision blur
- Slurred speech
Consult a doctor if you are unaware of the fainting cause or have fainted more than once recently.
Prevention for fainting
If you have a feeling that you are about to faint, try:
- Lie down with legs raised
- Drink water
- Try to eat
- Take deep breaths
What to do during fainting?
If a person next to you has fainted, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Try keeping them calm
- Typically, a person wakes within 20 seconds after fainting
- Make them lie on their back
- Provide them with ice or cold water
- Check for their heartbeats
- Make sure that they are breathing
- Check for any injuries while falling down
When fainting is an emergency?
Call for a medical emergency when:
- The person is not woken up for one minute
- Has hurt themselves while falling down
- Having fits or seizures
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 23 JUNE 2022