Fainting: MedlinePlus

Fainting: MedlinePlus

 

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National Institutes of Health

Fainting

Also called: Syncope 

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Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. If you're about to faint, you'll feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Your field of vision may "white out" or "black out." Your skin may be cold and clammy. You lose muscle control at the same time, and may fall down.
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

• Heat or dehydration
• Emotional distress
• Standing up too quickly
• Certain medicines
• Drop in blood sugar
• Heart problems

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.

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Fainting

Related Topics

• Autonomic Nervous System Disorders
• Low Blood Pressure
• Brain and Nerves
• Symptoms

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Fainting is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

 

Start Here

• Fainting(American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Also available in Spanish
• Syncope(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary 

• Overviews

  • Fainiting (Syncope)(Heart Rhythm Society)
  • Syncope(American Heart Association)
  • Syncope (Fainting) (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Management of Transient Loss of Consciousness: NIH Guideline(American College of Physicians) - PDF
  • Tilt Table Test(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• Treatment

  • Fainting: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Treatment for Syncope(Heart Rhythm Society)

• Specific Conditions

  • Fainting during Urination (Micturition Syncope): What Causes It?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Vasovagal Syncope (Fainting)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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• Related Issues

  • Frequently Asked Questions on Syncope After Vaccination(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Risk Factors and Causes of Syncope(Heart Rhythm Society)
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• Health Check Tools

  • Faintness(DSHI Systems)
  • Syncope(DSHI Systems)
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Syncope(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Interactive medical case. A patient with syncope.
  • Article: Autonomic nervous system modulation during accidental syncope induced by heat...
  • Article: Clinical reasoning: a 25-year-old man with headaches and collapse.
  • Article: 57-year-old man with flushing and fainting.
  • Fainting -- see more articles
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• Organizations

  • American Heart Association
  • Heart Rhythm Society
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Children

  • Syncope (Fainting) in Children and Teenagers(Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
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• Teenagers

  • Dizziness and Fainting Spells(American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • Fainting(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Seniors

  • Fainting (Syncope)(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
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• Patient Handouts

  • Fainting
  • Also available in Spanish