Fainting

The sudden and temporary loss in conscious which cause falling down is known as fainting.

Fainting happens because of the interruption which occurs in the supply of the blood to the brain that occurs due to a malfunction of the autonomous nervous system suddenly.

Symptoms

If a person faints, he or she may feel unsteady and weak unusually. Then a short episode of passing out happens. This can occur when a person does something very fast like standing up, sitting down or getting up from bed.

The person experiences the following symptoms before passing out:

• Sudden sweating that is very clammy.
• Yawning
• a sensation for vomiting or nausea
• deep and fast breathing
• confusion
• blurring of vision
• appearance of spots
• ringing in the ears.

An episode of loss of consciousness and strength follows this. But the person may collapse without any warning.

After fainting, when one regains consciousness, he or she may be weak or confused for about half an hour.

Causes

Fainting is a mechanism of defence employed by the brain so as to supply to vital functions of the body if the level of oxygen supply is less. The rate of heart beat and breathing will increase to bring up the level of oxygen. This will cause hypotension. The combination of hypotension and hyperventilation leads to temporary unconsciousness and weakness of the muscles that will cause fainting.

Fainting can be of many types.

Neurocardiogenic syncope or vasovagal syncope or reflux syncope is a condition where the fainting occurs due to malfunctioning of autonomous nervous system suddenly. The triggers for this condition are:

• Exposing oneself to any unpleasant experience or sight suddenly
• The person standing for a long time
• If the person spend a very long time in the sun
• If one experiences a an emotional or fearful or stressful episode suddenly.
• Occupational syncope occurs due to triggers from
• sneezing
• coughing
• passing faeces
• urination
• physical activities that are strenuous
• Orthostatic hypotension is caused by
• dehydration
• diabetes
• medications like anti-depressants, beta blockers and diuretics
• Neurological conditions like Parkinson;s disease
• Presence of carotid sinus syndrome
• Cardiac syncope occurs due to
• arrhythmia or abnormal rhythms of the heart
• stenosis or blocking of the valves of the heart
• hypertension and
• heart attack

Treatment

The causes for fainting are treated to prevent further episode of fainting.

Treatment for neurocardiogenic syncope includes avoiding the triggers like:

• standing on our feet for a very long time
• exposing oneself to stuffy and hot environments and
• dehydration.

If a person experiences recurring neurocardiogenic syncope episodes that interferes his normal life, then he is advised to use beta-blockers for avoiding hypertension.

But use of beta-blockers can lead to the following side effects.

• lethargy
• cold feet and hands
• slowing down of heartbeat
• nausea and
• diarrhoea

Some other side effects that are not so common are:

• disturbed sleeping patterns
• nightmares as well as
• impotence