Have you ever seen someone suddenly lose consciousness and fall to the ground? Maybe it's happened to you. During a morning assembly at school, while stuck on a bus, or after being in the sun for a long time, we usually call it "fainting." This is usually nothing to worry about. However, sometimes it can be a symptom of a serious illness. So today we will talk about this fainting, or in medical terms, syncope.
Why are you bothering us?
Simply put, our brain gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs from blood. This is how we lose consciousness when the blood flow to the brain is temporarily reduced for some reason. When we lose consciousness and fall to the ground, our body becomes horizontal, so blood flows easily back to the brain without having to work against gravity. That is why we regain consciousness within a minute or two.
There may be several reasons for this.
- The most common cause ( vasovagal syncope ): This is the most common and not very serious type of syncope. When we are very scared, in extreme pain, when we see blood, when we stand for a long time, or when we cough, a signal from our nervous system suddenly decreases our heart rate and blood pressure. This causes a lack of blood to reach the brain, causing fainting.
- Orthostatic hypotension: You may feel dizzy when you stand up suddenly from a sitting or lying position, right? This is because your blood pressure suddenly drops. For some people, this can be a bit severe and even debilitating. This can happen as you get older, when you take certain medications, or in conditions like dehydration.
- Cardiac Syncope: This is the type we should be most concerned about . A heart problem, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), a heart valve defect, or a serious condition like a heart attack, can cause loss of consciousness if the blood supply to the brain is cut off. This can usually happen suddenly, without any warning .
Common symptoms before giving birth
Often, our bodies give us little clues before they start to hurt us. If you sit down or lie down quickly as soon as you feel these signs, you can prevent yourself from fainting.
As soon as you start to feel these symptoms, sit down in a safe place as quickly as possible. Do not stand. If possible, lie down on the floor with your legs slightly elevated.
Here are some of those common characteristics.
| Symptom | How does this feel? |
|---|---|
| Dizziness and lightheadedness | It feels like there's nothing inside your head, and it's hard to stand still. |
| Blurred vision | A feeling of black dots floating before the eyes, or a temporary loss of vision. |
| Hearing loss or ringing in the ears | The ears feel like they are ringing, or there is a "ringing" sound coming from inside the ears (tinnitus). |
| Sweating and nausea | Suddenly, my body becomes cold, I start sweating, and I feel like I'm going to vomit. |
| Paleness | When blood pressure drops, blood flow to the skin decreases, causing areas like the face and lips to turn pale. |
| Numbness of the limbs and lips | You may feel a tingling sensation around your fingertips and lips. |
| Incontinence | This is a less common occurrence. It may be due to the loss of muscle control in the body along with loss of consciousness. |
When you should definitely see a doctor
Never ignore a sore throat as if it's normal. Especially in these cases, it's important to see your doctor as soon as possible to find the cause.
- If you lose consciousness for no apparent reason: You haven't been standing for a long time, and you weren't scared, but you suddenly lose consciousness, you need to get it checked out.
- If you faint during exercise: This is a very serious warning sign . If you faint during strenuous activity, such as running, jumping, or lifting weights, it is very likely that you have a heart problem. If this happens, see a doctor immediately.
- Palpitations and fainting : If you feel your chest pounding or beating irregularly before you lose consciousness, it could be a sign of an irregular heartbeat.
- Family history: If anyone in your family has frequent fainting spells, or if they have had sudden cardiac death at a young age, you should tell a doctor the first time you faint.
- If you are having frequent blackouts: If you are having blackouts like this more than once, don't give up until you find the cause.
- If you are injured after a fall: If you lose consciousness and fall, hit your head, or break a bone, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) for treatment.
When you go to the doctor, it is very helpful to provide accurate details, such as how the incident happened, the time, what you were doing at the time, what you felt before you fainted, and how long you were unconscious.
Take-Home Message
- Syncope is a temporary decrease in blood supply to the brain. Most of the time, it is not a serious condition.
- Sit down or lie down immediately if you feel symptoms such as dizziness, blackouts, or sweating. This can help prevent you from losing consciousness and falling and injuring yourself.
- Never ignore fainting during exercise, accompanied by chest pain, or if you have a family history of heart disease. Seek medical advice as soon as possible.
- If you experience a loss of consciousness for the first time, it is wise to talk to your doctor about it.
- Don't forget to inform your doctor about the medications you are taking and any other illnesses you may have.
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