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Why does someone faint?
There are many reasons for a person to faint or “pass out”. Some of the most common reasons are:
- low blood pressure
- a slow heartbeat
- Seeing something frightening, shocking or unpleasant, like blood.
- emotional upset
- extreme embarrassment
- Standing for a long time
- Being in a hot and closed place
- Taking certain medications like those for high blood pressure and heart disease
Before you faint, you may feel:
When a patient feels faint they may say that they are feeling weak, look pale (change in the color of their skin) and fall or sit slumped over (“bent over”)
- A feeling of heaviness in the legs
- Double vision
- Unsure of what is happening (confusion)
- Feeling hot or cold
- Dizziness or a “floating” feeling
- A feeling of sickness or nausea and or wanting to throw-up
- Tiredness and yawning
- Sweating
Treatment:
- See a doctor to find and treat any unknown reason for the fainting
- Consider any other reason for fainting like being in a closed room or standing for a long time and avoid repeating them
- If you are on any long term or new mediation watch for feeling faint after taking the medication and discuss this with your doctor
- Eat a well-balanced meal and have at least 8 hours of sleep
What to do if you feel faint or if you see somebody fainting:
- Find somewhere safe to sit down
- When sitting place your head between your knees
- When getting up do it slowly
- If someone else has fainted lie them on their back facing up
- Try to loosen all their belts, ties, collars, and tight clothing
- If they are not breathing call for help
- If they are breathing but not moving or waking up for more than one minute place them on their side and call for help.