Fainting can be caused by several factors, such as low blood pressure, lack of blood sugar or being in very hot environments, for example. However, in some cases, it can also arise due to heart or nervous system problems and therefore, in case of faintness, the person must lie down or sit down.
Fainting, which is scientifically known as syncope, is the loss of consciousness that leads to a fall and, usually, before passing out signs and symptoms appear, such as pallor, dizziness, sweating, blurred vision and weakness, for example.
Most common causes of fainting
Anyone can pass out, even if they have no illness diagnosed by the doctor. Some of the reasons that can lead to fainting include:
- Low blood pressure, especially when the person gets out of bed too fast, with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, imbalance and sleep; Being more than 4 hours without eating, hypoglycemia, which is the lack of blood sugar and which causes symptoms such as tremors, weakness, cold sweats and mental confusion , may occur; Seizures, which can occur due to epilepsy or a blow to the head, for example, and which causes tremors and causes the person to drool, clench their teeth and even defecate and urinate spontaneously; Excessive alcohol consumption or drug use; Side effects of some medicines or use of medicines in high doses, such as pressure medicines or antidiabetics; Excessive heat, as at the beach or during the bath, for example; Very cold, which can occur in the snow; Practicing physical exercises for a long time and very intensely; Anemia, dehydration or severe diarrhea, which leads to changes in the nutrients and minerals necessary for the body's balance; Anxiety or panic attack; Very strong pain; Hit your head after a fall or hit; Migraine, which causes severe headache, pressure in the neck and ringing in the ears; Standing for a long time, especially in hot places and with many people; When you are afraid, of needles or animals, for example.
In addition, fainting can be a sign of heart problems or brain diseases, such as arrhythmia or aortic stenosis, for example, as in most cases fainting is caused by a reduction in the amount of blood that reaches the brain.
The following table lists the most common causes of fainting, according to age, which can arise in the elderly, young people and pregnant women.
|
Causes of fainting in the elderly |
Causes of fainting in children and adolescents |
Causes of fainting in pregnancy |
| Low blood pressure upon waking | Prolonged fasting | Anemia |
| High doses of drugs, such as antihypertensive or anti-diabetic drugs | Dehydration or diarrhea | Low pressure |
| Heart problems, such as arrhythmia or aortic stenosis | Excessive drug use or alcohol use | Lying long on your back or standing |
However, any of the causes of fainting can occur at any age or period of life.
How to avoid fainting
Having the feeling that he is going to faint, and presenting symptoms such as dizziness, weakness or blurred vision, the person should lie on the floor, placing his legs at a higher level in relation to the body, or sit and lean the trunk towards the legs, avoid stressful situations and avoid standing in the same position for a long time. See other tips on how to act if you pass out.
In addition, to avoid fainting, you should drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, eat every 3 hours, avoid exposure to heat, especially in the summer, get out of bed slowly, sit on the bed first and record your situations that usually cause a faint feeling, such as taking blood or having an injection and informing the nurse or pharmacist of this possibility.
It is very important to avoid fainting because the person may be injured or suffer a fracture due to the fall, which occurs due to the sudden loss of consciousness.
When to go to the doctor
Usually, after fainting it is necessary to go to a doctor to try to find out the cause. There are cases in which it is essential that the person goes immediately to the emergency room:
- If you have any illness, such as diabetes, epilepsy or heart problems; After exercising; If you hit your head; After an accident or fall; If you faint for more than 3 minutes; If you have other symptoms such as severe pain, vomiting or drowsiness; faint frequently; vomited a lot or have severe diarrhea.
In these cases the patient needs to be evaluated by the doctor to check that he is in good health and, if necessary, to do more specific tests, such as blood tests or tomography, for example. See how to prepare for a CT scan.
