What causes a vasovagal?
Vasovagal syncope is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, often triggered by a reaction to something. This causes your heart to slow down for a short time. As a result, your brain may not get enough oxygen-rich blood, which causes you to pass out. Vasovagal syncope is typically not a serious health condition.Oct 10, 2019
What is it called when you get dizzy and pass out?
A simple episode, also called a vasovagal attack or neurally-mediated syncope, is the most common type of fainting spell. It is most common in children and young adults. A vasovagal attack happens because blood pressure drops, reducing circulation to the brain and causing loss of consciousness.Apr 14, 2021
What is it called when you pass out when you see blood?
Vasovagal syncope (vay-zoh-VAY-gul SING-kuh-pee) occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. It may also be called neurocardiogenic syncope. The vasovagal syncope trigger causes your heart rate and blood pressure to drop suddenly.Feb 19, 2021
Is vasovagal syncope serious?
Vasovagal syncope is the most common cause of fainting. It happens when the blood vessels open too wide or the heartbeat slows, causing a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain. It's generally not a dangerous condition.
What does it mean when you feel like you're about to faint?
Pre-syncope is the feeling that you are about to faint. Someone with pre-syncope may be lightheaded (dizzy) or nauseated, have a visual "gray out" or trouble hearing, have palpitations, or feel weak or suddenly sweaty. When discussing syncope with your doctor, you should note episodes of pre-syncope as well.
What does it mean when you faint and go limp?
Syncope (SINK-a-pee) is another word for fainting or passing out. Someone is considered to have syncope if they become unconscious and go limp, then soon recover. For most people, syncope occurs once in a great while, if ever, and is not a sign of serious illness. However in others, syncope can be the first and only warning sign prior ...
What is reflex syncope?
Reflex Syncope (Neurally Mediated Syncope, Vasovagal Syncope, Vasodepressor Syncope, the Common Faint) Reflex syncope is the result of a reflex response to some trigger, in which the heart slows or blood vessels dilate (widen). This causes blood pressure to drop, so less blood flows to the brain and fainting (syncope) or near-fainting (pre-syncope) ...
What is the condition where the heart beats too fast?
These include bradyarrhythmias (the heart beats too slowly) and tachyarrhythmias (the heart beats too fast). Aortic dissection, a tear in the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This is a very rare but life-threatening condition.
What causes syncope in the heart?
Common causes of cardiac syncope: Arrhythmia and abnormal heart rhythm: During episodes of heart arrhythmia, the heart works inefficiently and not enough oxygenated blood can circulate to the brain. There are many types of cardiac arrhythmias that may cause syncope.
What is post-micturition syncope?
Urinating ( post-micturition syncope: occurs in men while standing to urinate) Eating a meal. Sudden abdominal pain. Blowing a brass instrument or lifting weights. Carotid Sinus Syncope, a response in older adults that occurs when pressure is applied to the carotid artery in the neck.
What is considered a pre-syncope?
Getting an injection or having blood drawn (not considered serious) Standing up quickly (a "head rush" is considered pre-syncope) Standing upright for a long time. Sudden and unexpected trauma, stress or pain, such as being hit. Blood donation.
What are the signs of syncope?
People who experience the warning signs of fainting of dizziness, nausea and sweaty palms should sit or lie down. Anyone with syncope should receive an initial evaluation, including detailed physical and history examinations and measurement of blood pressure and heart rate, by a physician.
What causes syncope in the heart?
Cardiac or cardiovascular syncope is caused by various heart conditions, such as bradycardia, tachycardia or certain types of hypotension . It can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. People suspected of having cardiac syncope but who don't have serious medical conditions may be managed as outpatients.
Can heart failure cause syncope?
If evaluation suggests cardiac vascular abnormalities, an ambulatory external or implantable cardiac monitor may be required. Heart failure, atrial fibrillation and other serious cardiac conditions can cause recurrent syncope in older adults, with a sharp increase after age 70.
Does fainting affect quality of life?
Some studies have shown that with recurrent episodes of fainting, the quality of life is reduced in both adults and in pediatr ic patients, however more well designed studies that incorporates quality of life, work loss and functional capacity are needed.
Can you drive after a syncope?
When it comes to driving after a syncope episode, there are no restrictions for VVS patients who had no fainting spells in the previous year. Still, it may be helpful for healthcare providers to discuss regional driving laws, restrictions and implications with all patients.
Overview
Fainting is when you lose consciousness for a short time. It’s caused by a sudden drop in blood flow to the brain. A fainting episode usually lasts a few seconds or minutes, then the person wakes up and returns to normal.
Possible Causes
Fainting is usually not a sign of a serious health problem, but it can be.
When to Call the Doctor
If you faint once and are in good health otherwise, you probably don’t need to talk to a healthcare provider. But seek medical attention if you:
What does it mean when you faint?
When you faint, you become unconscious for a few seconds. It is also called passing out or blacking out. The medical term for this is syncope. You may feel sick and sweaty first or pass out with no warning at all. When you pass out, you fall to the ground.
What is it called when you lose consciousness?
It comes on suddenly, only lasts for a short time and you recover fully within a short time. It is also often called a blackout. The medical term is syncope. It isn't the same thing as a seizure which usually causes jerking.
Why do I faint when I'm a teenager?
In older people, fainting is more likely to be due to an underlying heart problem, low blood pressure or as a side-effect of medication .
Why do I faint when I lay down?
It is important to seek medical attention if you experience faints. Faints may be caused by a serious problem. However, this is very unusual unless you are aged over 40 or they have happened while you were lying down or during exercise. The most common causes are mentioned below. Fainting. Collapse. In this article.
Why do I get blacked out?
Other causes of blacking out may be due to low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and lack of oxygen (hypoxia) from a variety of causes.
Why do I faint when I exercise?
Cardiac syncope: this occurs due to an underlying heart problem. There may be a family history of sudden death. The faint may be preceded by chest pain or the sensation of having a 'thumping heart' (palpitations) and may happen during exercise.
Why do I feel tired after I come around?
Fainting happens because the brain needs a constant supply of oxygen.
What does it mean when you faint?
Understanding fainting. Fainting happens when you lose consciousness for a short amount of time because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. The medical term for fainting is syncope, but it’s more commonly known as “passing out.”. A fainting spell generally lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, weak, ...
What causes fainting in the body?
Fainting can be triggered by a number of factors, including: fear or other emotional trauma. severe pain. a sudden drop in blood pressure. low blood sugar due to diabetes. hyperventilation. dehydration. standing in one position for too long.
How to stop fainting when you get blood drawn?
Always get up slowly from a sitting or lying-down position. If you tend to feel faint at the sight of blood when getting your blood drawn or during other medical procedures, tell your doctor. They can take certain precautions to prevent you from fainting. Lastly, don’t skip meals.
What to do if you have passed out multiple times?
Even people who only pass out once should at least get an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which records the electrical activity of your heart.
How do you know if you're fainting?
Feeling lightheaded and weak and having the sensation of spinning are warning signs of fainting. If you notice any of these signs, sit and put your head between your knees to help get blood to your brain. You could also lie down to avoid injury due to falling. Don’t stand up until you feel better.
What is the name of the condition where the neck is constricted?
Carotid sinus syncope. This type happens when the carotid artery in the neck is constricted, usually after turning your head to one side or wearing a collar that’s too tight. Situational syncope. This type occurs due to straining while coughing, urinating, moving your bowels, or having gastrointestinal problems.
What to do when you are unconscious?
A cool, quiet place is best. A cool drink of water may also help. Learn more about first aid tips for unconsciousness. If the person isn’t breathing, immediately call 911 or your local emergency services.
What causes a person to faint?
Sometimes fainting may be caused by a temporary drop in the blood supply to the brain caused by a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA, sometimes called a mini-stroke, is a disruption in the blood supply to the brain caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel. Seek help immediately if a fainting spell is followed by one or more of the symptoms listed below: 1 numbness or tingling in any body part 2 blurred vision 3 confusion 4 difficulty speaking 5 loss of movement in arms or legs
Why do I faint when I'm older?
This type of fainting occurs because blood pools in the leg veins, reducing the amount that is available for the heart to pump to the brain. This type of fainting is quite common in older people or those taking drugs to treat high blood pressure.
Why do I faint when I stand up?
Extreme pain, fear, or stress may bring on fainting. This type of fainting is caused by overstimulation of the vagus nerve, a nerve connected to the brain that helps control breathing and circulation. In addition, a person who stands still or erect for too long may faint. This type of fainting occurs because blood pools in the leg veins, reducing the amount that is available for the heart to pump to the brain. This type of fainting is quite common in older people or those taking drugs to treat high blood pressure.
How long does it take for a fainting spell to go away?
The person may faint again, especially if he or she stands up within 30 minutes.
Why do I faint when I turn my head?
When an older person feels faint upon turning the head or looking upward suddenly, the cause could be osteoarthritis of the neck bones. Osteoarthritis damages the cartilage between the neck bones and causes pressure on blood vessels leading to the brain.
What is the term for a loss of consciousness due to the lack of oxygen and glucose?
fainting . Temporary loss of consciousness due to brain deprivation of an adequate supply of blood and thus oxygen and glucose. This results from a reduction in blood pressure, either because the heart is pumping too slowly or less efficiently or because the arteries of the body have widened.
How to get rid of fainting spell?
After a fainting spell, the person should regain normal color but may continue to feel weak for a short time. Lying down quietly for a few moments may help. In most cases, an attack of fainting is not serious. As soon as the underlying pain or stress passes, the danger of repeated episodes also is eliminated.
Overview
- Syncope (pronounced SIN-koe-pee) is the medical term for fainting and presyncope describes the feeling that youre going to faint (but you dont). This feeling sometimes includes dizziness, light headedness, blurred vision and weakness and usually is related to orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure that occurs on standing up suddenly.
- Syncope, commonly known as fainting, refers to a sudden loss of consciousness, followed by a rapid and complete recovery. If you have symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness, without loss of consciousness, this is often called presyncope, but these symptoms may be due to conditions that are unrelated to syncope.
Definition
- Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic within three minutes of standing.18 Tachycardia and a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute during testing indicate volume depletion. Minimal cardiac acceleration suggests baroreflex impairment that may occur normally in older patients. Medications associat…
- Sinus bradycardia Bradycardia means a slow heart rate. In sinus bradycardia, the heart rate is slower than normal. A dramatically slowed heart rate can decrease the blood supply to the brain by reducing the amount of blood that the heart can pump per minute. Orthostatic hypotension Hypotension means low blood pressure. Orthostatic hypotension refers to low bloo…
- Syncope is an abrupt, transient loss of consciousness due to transient global cerebral hypoperfusion with a concomitant loss of postural tone and rapid, spontaneous recovery.1 Syncope is distinct other causes of transient loss of consciousness such seizures, hypoglycemia, stroke, trauma.2 Recovery from syncope is characterized by immediate restoration in orientatio…
Cause
- Plenty of people lose consciousness due to alcohol use, and we don't call it fainting (although passing out still seems appropriate). Besides its obvious sedation effect, alcohol makes you urinate, which will eventually lead to dehydration. It also dilates blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure. Combining those effects drains the brain and turns out the lights. Like shock, lo…
- Fainting usually happens when your blood pressure drops suddenly, causing a decrease in blood flow to your brain. It is more common in older people. Some causes of fainting include...
- Feeling faint is the result of a temporarily inadequate blood supply to your brain. Sit down or lie down. If you sit, put your head between your knees to bring blood flow back to the brain.
- The underlying cause of syncope remains unidentified in 13 to 31 percent of patients even after a thorough evaluation.2,6,911 Although underlying causes are reported in various ways, this review uses four causal categories: reflex mediated (36 to 62 percent), cardiac (10 to 30 percent), orthostatic (2 to 24 percent), and cerebrovascular (about 1 percent).3,5 The major underlying ca…
Signs And Symptoms
- Folks who are prone to syncope commonly begin fainting at around 13 years old and continue for the rest of their lives. The patient will feel flush (warm or hot are also common feelings) followed by sudden weakness and loss of consciousness. They'll go limp and often break out in a cold sweat. People who are standing when they faint, or \"pass out,\" will collapse to the ground. In s…
- Dizziness may be brought on by the hormonal changes during menstruation that affect the tone of blood vessels, so that may be what underlies your presyncope episodes. The hormonal changes of menopause have also been reported to cause bouts of dizziness and vertigo, which sometimes are associated with other menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes and anxiety) and someti…
- Vasovagal syncope has three distinct phases: a prodrome, loss of consciousness, and a postsyncopal phase. A precipitating event or situation (e.g., emotional stress, trauma, pain, sight of blood, prolonged standing) usually is identifiable. The prodrome, characterized by diaphoresis, epigastric discomfort, extreme fatigue, weakness, yawning, nausea, dizziness, and vertigo, result…
Treatment
- While a myoclonic contraction is not a seizure, true seizures can also cause a sudden loss of consciousness. However, the symptoms of a seizure are different. So is the treatment of seizures. Once someone faints, get the patient comfortably lying flat. You can elevate the legs to help blood flow return to the brain, but it is generally not necessary and there's some debate on whether it i…
- When someone faints, make sure that the airway is clear and check for breathing. The person should stay lying down for 10-15 minutes. Most people recover completely. Fainting is usually nothing to worry about, but it can sometimes be a sign of a serious problem. If you faint, it's important to see your health care provider and find out why it happened.
- Most people with syncope due to VT have underlying heart disease, most commonly coronary heart disease. Treatment of people with syncope caused by VT usually includes an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. (See 'Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator' below.)
- The treatment for syncope varies based on the cause of syncope (Table 7). While some causes are relatively benign, patients with frequent episodes of syncope occasionally need treatment. There are 2 main treatment strategies: conservative/nonpharmacologic therapy and medical treatment. The management of syncope during acute episodes is the same for both treatment s…
Diagnosis
- To decide if the heart may be the culprit, take a pulse. If it's too fast (more than 150 beats per minute) or too slow (less than 50 beats per minute), suspect that the heart caused the fainting spell. Also, if the patient is complaining of chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, assume the heart is too weak to keep blood in the head.
- Transient loss of consciousness is usually due to syncope. Other possible causes are: 1. Falls/trauma. 2. Epilepsy. 3. Narcolepsy, cataplexy. 4. Drop attacks. 5. Dizziness or vertigo without loss of consciousness. 6. Alcohol/drug abuse. 7. Transient ischaemic attacks/stroke. 8. Psychogenic pseudosyncope.See also the separate Dizziness, Giddiness and Feeling Faint article.
- SYNCOPE DIAGNOSIS There are three main ways to identify the causes of syncope: the medical history, the physical examination, and cardiac testing. A medical history and physical examination are recommended for anyone who has had syncope. Some people will also require cardiac testing. Medical history Gathering as much information as possible about events that occurred …
Prognosis
- All by itself, fainting is not life-threatening. However, sudden cardiac arrest looks a lot like fainting and requires immediate treatment.
- 1. Prognosis varies according to the underlying cause. The all-cause mortality in subjects with reflex syncope is not higher than in the general population. 2. Approximately 35% of patients have recurrences of syncope at three years of follow-up. 3. In young patients, syncope is a benign event. 4. Isolated syncope (transient loss of consciousness in the absence of prior or concurren…
- In patients without focal neurologic symptoms and signs, syncope from cerebrovascular disease is extremely rare. Transient ischemia may result from vertebrobasilar insufficiency and may cause syncope. Concurrent neurologic symptoms including vertigo, ataxia, or sensory disturbance often will be found.7 Headache, vertigo, dysarthria, and diplopia also are suggestive of syncope resulti…
- The overall prognosis of syncope depends on the underlying cause. Patients with syncope with structural heart disease and primary electrical disease are at high risk of overall mortality and sudden cardiac death. Young patients with reflex syncope have an excellent prognosis.2Morbidity in patients with syncope is associated with recurrence of episodes and physical injury. In popula…
Pathophysiology
- Prior awareness of syncopal events or syncope in association with micturition, defecation, painful stimuli, or the sight of blood suggests a reflex-mediated mechanism. Syncope associated with exertion or palpitations suggests cardiac causes. Positional syncope may indicate orthostatic hypotension. Drug-related syncope is associated with cardiovascular, neurologic, antiparkinsoni…
- To remain conscious, a supply of oxygen-rich blood must be pumped to the brain without interruption. If the brain is deprived of this blood supply, even for a brief period, loss of consciousness (passing out) will occur.
- The pathophysiology of syncope involves the interaction between the circulatory system and the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is vital for the maintenance of internal homeostasis including regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, fluid and electrolyte balance, and body temperature. If one considers orthostatic intolerance, postural hypotension, a…
Etiology
- 1. Neurally mediated syncope (NMS) - also called reflex syncope: 1. Vasovagal syncope (common faint): 1. Emotional - eg, fear, severe pain, blood phobia, sudden, unexpected sight, sound or smell. 2. Orthostatic stress - eg, prolonged standing or when in crowded, hot places. 2. Situational syncope - eg, cough, sneeze, gastrointestinal stimulation (swallowing, defecation, visceral pain), …
- The Task Force for the Diagnostic Management Syncope of the European Society of Cardiology (Task Force of the ESC) has classified syncope into 3 main categories: reflex syncope, syncope due to OH, and cardiac syncope.2 Prospective studies have found that neurally mediated causes of syncope account for the largest percentage of events (38% to 56%). Cardiovascular causes, s…
Prevention
- Sometimes, there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop from fainting, but if you feel it coming on there are a few things that may help. If you feel suddenly flushed, hot, nauseated or break out in a cold sweat, don't stand up. Lie down until it passes. If it doesn't pass in a few minutes or you begin to experience chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911. Passing out is, undoubtedly, a sc…
- The fact that you have had tests that have ruled out any heart-related problem that might underlie your presyncope episodes is reassuring. To avoid feeling faint when you stand up, the best advice I can give you is to stand up slowly, rather than suddenly. Fortunately, presyncope such as you describe usually is of no medical consequence. Since your episodes are associated with your m…
- Exercise testing In some people, especially those with a history of syncope during exertion, an exercise test is useful. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and rhythm are monitored while exercising on a treadmill or bicycle.
- Recurrence of syncopal episodes may be prevented by patient education and treatment. Patients need to be aware of triggers that may predispose to or precipitate syncopal spells and orthostatic intolerance. There is no definite procedure for screening individuals for syncope.Back to Top...