Fainting is defined as a
brief loss of consciousness. This occurs due to a severe drop in blood flow to
the brain. A person losses consciousness for only a couple of minutes and
recovers quickly. In medical profession, fainting is called as syncope. In this
post, I am going to discuss the various causes of fainting, home care and when
to contact a doctor.
Causes of fainting
·
A sudden drop in blood pressure
·
Dehydration
·
Low blood sugar due to diabetes
·
Emotional trauma
·
Fear
·
Severe pain
Home Care
When a person faints, the
first thing one needs to do is check his or her airways and breathing. If the
person is wearing tight clothing around the neck, then immediately loosen tight
clothing. Raise the person’s leg to a height of about 12 inches. Allow the
person to lie down for at least 15-20 minutes in a cool and quite environment.
When to see a doctor?
It is always advised to see
a doctor even after the person gets back his or her consciousness. The doctor
may ask several questions such as whether you felt something like seizure or
heart rhythm disturbance during fainting. Some of the questions that a doctor
often asks include – is this the first time you fainted, did fainting occur
during physical exercise, did you experience chest pain, etc.
Some of the common tests
that a health professional often recommends are as follows:
·
Blood tests for anemia
·
ECG
·
EEG
·
Cardia rhythm monitoring
·
X-ray of the chest
