Do you suddenly faint? Don't be afraid of fainting, let's talk!

You've probably seen someone suddenly lose consciousness and fall to the ground. Maybe it's happened to you, or maybe it's happened to someone you know. This is what we call "fainting" in the language. Medically speaking, this is a brief loss of consciousness. It's actually a bit scary to see or experience. However, most of the time, it's not a serious condition. Let's talk about this in detail today.

Why are you fainting like this?

Simply put, fainting occurs when our brain does not receive enough blood for a while . When the blood flow to the brain decreases, the amount of oxygen it receives also decreases. That is when you lose consciousness. There can be many reasons for this decrease in blood flow to the brain. Let's look at the main reasons.

1. For physical reasons

Sometimes the environment we live in or the things we do can affect this.

• Imagine that you are in a crowded place on a very hot day . Or in a place where there is no wind at all. You have probably seen people fainting at festivals or in queues. It could be for reasons like these.
• Sometimes this condition can occur even if you've been standing in the same position for a long time . For example, when children stand in the sun for a long time during a morning assembly at school. What happens here is that some blood pools in the legs, temporarily reducing the amount of blood going to the brain.
• Similarly, getting up suddenly from a sitting or lying position can also cause fainting. This is called orthostatic hypotension. When you stand up suddenly, gravity causes some blood to move to your legs, which can immediately reduce the amount of blood going to your brain.

2. Due to stress and strong emotions

Our thoughts can also directly affect fainting. This is also called `Vasovagal Syncope`.

• Imagine if you suddenly become very scared , or if you feel a lot of pain , if you get very nervous, if you suddenly experience a big shock... Things like these can cause changes in our nervous system, causing our heart rate and blood pressure to suddenly drop, causing fainting.
• Have you ever noticed how some people faint when they see blood ? This happens to some people when they go for an injection or when they see a wound. It's for this reason.

3. Changes in breathing pattern (`Hyperventilation`)

This is another cause of fainting. ``Hyperventilation`` is when a person breathes very quickly and deeply . Some people breathe this fast when they are nervous or scared.

• When we breathe so fast, the level of carbon dioxide (`Carbon Dioxide` or `CO2`) in our blood drops below the necessary level.
• What happens then? Some of the blood vessels that supply blood to our brain narrow (become blocked). Then the amount of blood going to the brain decreases again, which can cause fainting.

4. Due to some medical conditions

Sometimes, if you feel dizzy frequently, it could be a sign of another underlying illness in your body.

• Heart disease: If there is any weakness in the functioning of the heart, for example, an irregular heartbeat (`arrhythmia`), fainting may occur because blood is not pumped properly to the brain.
• Anemia: This means that a person with anemia can also faint. Anemia means that the body has a low number of red blood cells that carry oxygen. This can also lead to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.
• Low blood sugar: Fainting can also occur in a condition called ``Low blood sugar'', or as doctors call it ``Hypoglycemia.'' This can happen if the sugar in people taking medication for diabetes suddenly drops. Or, it can also happen when they don't eat properly.
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): This is a somewhat complicated condition. In this condition, when a person changes position, such as when they stand up from a lying position, their heart rate increases abnormally, accompanied by symptoms such as fainting and dizziness.

5. During pregnancy (`Pregnancy`)

Even when you're expecting to become a mother, that is, during ``Pregnancy'', your body goes through a lot of changes .

• Changes occur, especially in the circulatory system. Hormonal changes cause blood vessels to widen slightly, so blood pressure may drop slightly below normal levels.
• Also, as the baby grows, the uterus also grows. This can put pressure on the large blood vessels (especially those that carry blood downwards) and reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart. This can reduce the blood supply to the brain, causing fainting. This can happen especially when sleeping on your back or when you have been standing for a long time.

What are the signs before fainting?

Most of the time, fainting doesn't happen all at once. Before that, our bodies give us little clues, or warning signs . If we recognize these, we can be careful before fainting and falling. Let's see what they are:

• I'm starting to feel dizzy .
• You may feel lifeless and light-headed (as if your head is floating above your body).
• The face suddenly turns pale.
• You may feel off-balance and like you're about to fall.
• Your vision may change slightly . You may experience a feeling of darkness before your eyes, spots, or tunnel vision.
• The heart rate may suddenly increase or become irregular (`palpitations`).
• I start sweating profusely and my body gets cold.
• You may feel nauseous and/or vomit .

If you notice any of these signs, you should take action immediately.

Can fainting be prevented? Yes, here's how!

When we feel faint, there are things we can do to stop it, or at least prevent ourselves from falling and injuring ourselves.

• If possible, lie down as soon as possible. This is the best thing to do. When you lie down, it is easier for blood to flow to the brain because it does not have to pump blood against gravity. If possible, keep your legs slightly elevated (with a pillow or bag). This will help the blood in your legs to flow more easily to your heart, and from there to your brain. Once you feel a little better, do not get up suddenly. First, sit down for a while, and then stand up slowly.
• If you can't lie down, sit down and lower your head between your knees. This also helps blood flow to the brain. But it's not as effective as lying down. When you feel a little better, sit up straight for a while, and then stand up.
• Drink plenty of water. When your body is dehydrated (i.e., dehydrated), you are more likely to feel dizzy. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You should drink even more water when exercising or in hot weather.
• Keep your blood circulation good. If you've been standing or sitting in the same position for a long time, move around after a while. Things like muscle tensing exercises and alternating legs can improve blood circulation.
• Avoid hot, crowded, and windless places as much as possible. If you must go to such a place, take a bottle of water with you, and if possible, step outside for a bit to get some fresh air.

Do I need to see a doctor? When should I seek medical advice?

In general, it's not always a cause for concern if your child, teenager, or yourself faints. Especially:

• If I could faint just once in my life .
• I regained consciousness in a short time, like a minute or two .
• If the cause of fainting is clear (for example, being in the sun for a long time, being in a hot place, being scared by the sight of blood).

However, if your child has any other chronic illness (e.g. diabetes, heart disease), is taking certain medications , or is experiencing dizziness, it is wise to call a doctor for advice.

However, in the following cases, you should definitely see a doctor or go to a hospital:

• If you fainted and fell and were seriously injured (especially if you hit your head hard).
• If you have chest pain along with fainting, abnormal heart rhythms (i.e., very fast or irregular heartbeats – such as `palpitations`), or difficulty breathing .
• If you experience a seizure along with fainting (like shaking, teeth grinding).
• If you feel faint while exercising or engaging in other physical activity, this could be a sign of heart disease.
• More than once, that is, if you faint frequently .
• If anyone in the family has a history of sudden cardiac death.

The doctor will ask you about the incident, perform a physical examination, and, if necessary, may perform several tests, such as:

• E.C.G. Test (`ECG` or `Electrocardiogram`): This is a simple, painless test used to detect heart conditions, especially irregular heartbeats.
• A test to check blood sugar levels.
• A blood test to check for anemia by measuring the hemoglobin level in the blood.
• Other specialized tests may be needed, such as an echocardiogram (a scan of the heart) or a tilt-table test.

What can you do as a parent?

If your child or someone close to you faints, don't panic and do these things:

1. Quickly help him lie down on the ground, or catch him from falling. The first thing to do is to prevent him from falling and injuring a vital part, such as his head.

2. If he has already fallen, check for injuries. If he looks like he has a serious injury, leave him alone and call an ambulance immediately. Don't move him around unnecessarily.

3. Loosen any tight clothing you are wearing (such as belts, shirt collars, ties).

4. Raise your legs slightly (about a foot). You can use a bag, a pillow, or your own leg for this. This increases blood flow to the brain.

5. Let the wind blow in your face. Keep the people around you a little distance away.

6. Usually, someone who faints regains consciousness within a minute or two. Even after regaining consciousness, do not get them up suddenly. Tell them to lie down for another 10-15 minutes. Getting up too quickly can cause them to faint again.

7. After regaining consciousness, you can give him some water to drink.

An emergency ambulance (e.g. 1990 Suwaseriya) should be called in the following situations:

• If a few minutes (e.g. 2-3 minutes) have passed and you are still unconscious.
• If you have difficulty breathing .
• Speaking of chest pain.
• If a seizure occurs.
• If you fell and hit your head hard or suffered another serious injury.
• If a pregnant mother faints.
• If a diabetic person faints (may be low blood sugar).

Remember this as a summary.

Okay, so now you probably understand that although fainting can be a bit scary, most of the time it's not a big deal.

The most important thing is to recognize the signs of fainting and lie down quickly. Or at least sit down with your head between your knees. This can go a long way in preventing falls and injuries.

• Always stay well hydrated, which means drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. Drink even more on hot days and when exercising.
• Develop habits like moving around instead of staying in one place for too long, and getting up slowly instead of getting up suddenly.
• But, as I said before, if you're constantly fainting, getting injured while fainting, or have other dangerous symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or seizures, you should definitely see a doctor to find out the cause. Don't skip it.
• If a child faints, do not panic, help them, and seek medical advice immediately if necessary.

It's very important for you to be aware of this. Because if something like this happens to you or someone you know, you'll know what to do. That will be a big help. If you have any questions, don't be shy about asking a doctor.