In general, fainting is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.
This can occur due to:
These factors increase your chance of developing this condition. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:
Symptoms include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include:
Treatment will depend on the underlying condition that has caused fainting. For example:
If you are diagnosed as having fainted, follow your doctor's instructions .
If you feel any warning signs, such as dizziness or lightheadedness, sit or lie down immediately so that you don't get hurt falling during a fainting spell.
In a recent randomized trial involving 223 patients with vasovagal syncope, training to perform certain maneuvers during warning signs of an impending spell reduced the risk of recurrent symptoms. These physical counterpressure maneuvers, designed to rapidly raise blood pressure and increase blood flow to the brain, included: *
If you are prone to fainting:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Alberta Health and Wellness
http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
References:
Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Chen LY, Benditt DG, Shen WK. Management of syncope in adults: an update. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2008;83:1280-1293.
Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult . Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins; 2001.
Miller TH, Kruse JE. Evaluation of syncope. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72:1492-1500.
*¹2/6/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Van Dijk N, Quartieri F, Blanc JJ, et al. Effectiveness of physical counterpressure maneuvers in preventing vasovagal syncope: the Physical Counterpressure Manoeuvres Trial (PC-Trial). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;48:1652-1657.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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