FAINTING: IS IT YOUR HEAD?

FAINTING: IS IT YOUR HEAD?

Passing out isn’t always a neurological issue. And although it’s fairly common, fainting shouldn’t be ignored. Here is what you need to know.

Fainting, also called passing out, can be frightening. But it is actually a common occurrence. An estimated one in three people will faint at some point in their lives

The person usually regains consciousness within a few minutes, recovers quickly and returns to normal. But sometimes fainting can signal a serious medical condition, even heart disease, so getting to the reason behind the incident is important.

The signs and causes of fainting.

Fainting occurs when one’s blood pressure suddenly drops, resulting in a decrease of blood flow to the brain.

 A number of things can affect blood pressure, from abrupt changes in posture (like going from lying down to standing). Dehydration, and certain medications, feeling faint can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. One’s field of vision may even “black out”. This loss of consciousness triggers a loss in muscle control. That’s what causes the person to fall to the ground.

One of the most common types of fainting is caused by a sort of crossed signal between the brain and the vagus nerve, a large nerve that runs from the brain to the stomach. When this nerve is over stipulated, a person may faint. In such cases, you can usually figure out the reason, maybe you were standing for a long time, fainted at the sight of blood, or due to kind of emotional distress or trauma, or pain.

Some people faint because they have suddenly constructed their carotid artery (the artery in the neck) by turning their head abruptly or wearing a too tight collar. Straining to make a bowel movement or even urinating can sometimes cause fainting too.

Fainting can also occur in people who have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, most common among diabetics because of fluctuating insulin levels. Dehydration can also cause fainting, particularly in the elderly, certain types of medication, including diuretics, heart medications, psychiatric drugs, antihistamines, and narcotics, can also trigger a fainting episode, as can alcohol.