What happens if you faint and no one is around? Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain, often serving as an early indicator of serious medical issues.
Doctors can usually pinpoint the source of fainting by asking about its symptoms and history and conducting a physical exam, along with offering tests like EEG. In certain instances they may recommend additional diagnostic procedures as well.
Causes
Fainting is the temporary loss of consciousness and muscle strength caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Most people recover within minutes; however, if they fall onto potentially hazardous terrain such as roads or water bodies they could suffer serious injury or even die as a result.
There are various factors that could cause you to faint, such as low blood pressure and medications such as calcium channel blockers and diuretics for high blood pressure or heart conditions; illness; dehydration; sudden fear/shock can also bring on fainting; anxiety; pain and fear are also triggers of fainting episodes.
Read This Gist: What Happens If You Give a Subcutaneous Injection Intramuscularly?
Once you know what causes your fainting, taking steps to prevent further episodes can be easier. If a medical condition such as heart valve disease or coronary artery disease exists in your heart, consulting with a physician would likely be wise.
If someone you know has fainted when no one else is present, it’s vital that they be assisted into lying down immediately. Make sure they’re breathing normally and call 911 if they haven’t come around within one minute; remain lying down for 10-15 minutes so their body can return to normal; prop their feet and upper legs up on something (a pillow, backpack etc) can make them feel more at ease; use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should one be available and someone can bring one; this AED device could save lives if used quickly enough and delivered by someone.
Symptoms
Fainting occurs when your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. An episode typically lasts only seconds or minutes and leaves people feeling dizzy with headaches, weak, sweaty or nauseated afterward, trouble focusing and may find it hard to speak or hear properly.
If someone faints in your presence, assist them by helping them lie down in a cool area and elevating their feet above heart level (about 12 inches or 30 centimeters). Loosen any tight clothing and encourage them to drink water.
Orthostatic syncope, in which people faint when standing up from sitting or lying down, often occurs at graduations, church services and weddings – sometimes leading to serious injury if they fall. Any time a person faints while standing up from sitting or lying down they should seek medical advice as this type of fainting could indicate low blood pressure or heart conditions that require diagnosis.
Vasovagal syncope is another form of fainting, occurring when stressors such as seeing blood or experiencing pain trigger a bodily reflex that slows the heart and leads to a decrease in blood pressure, often as a result of receiving shots or donating blood. Some medicines, including calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure or diuretics (water pills), can also trigger this reaction and result in sudden drops in blood pressure. This may account for why many faint during these situations.
Treatment
If someone faints without anyone around to assist, they should lie down immediately in a cool environment with their head tucked between their knees, propping them up with pillows or using something similar, until someone arrives who can assist and steady them before standing back up again as this could cause them to collapse and injure themselves further. If no breathing occurs or pulse can be detected then 911 must be called immediately.
If the episode was short and unaccompanied by any symptoms, they may not need to visit a physician; however, any incidents of fainting should always be reported as this information could help find its source and identify possible treatments.
Doctors typically diagnose fainting episodes by conducting an interview and physical exam. They ask about any health conditions or over-the-counter drugs being taken by patients as well as blood tests and electrocardiograms (EKG). Furthermore, imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might also be performed to check for certain brain conditions which could contribute to fainting episodes.
Some individuals can become susceptible to fainting due to low blood pressure (hypotension). This includes women in later months of gestation whose large uteri press on major blood vessels that supply the heart, as well as people exposed to heat or exercising too hard. They could be especially prone to fainting when temperatures or exercises get high or during physical exertion.
Prevention
Fainting is usually only temporary and shouldn’t indicate any serious health problems; however, repeated fainting without apparent cause should be seen by a doctor for evaluation; especially if they have high blood pressure, heart issues or are taking medications such as calcium channel blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).
If you have a history of fainting, try to identify activities that trigger it and avoid those activities that make you lose consciousness when getting up from a chair or bed, for instance. Take your time when getting up, move around often when sitting and drink plenty of fluids while eating regularly to reduce fainting risk.
If a loved one faints, help them lie on their back with legs raised above heart level to increase blood flow to their brain. Remove tight clothing and encourage deep breathing. If they become unconscious, roll them onto their side to check their pulse, roll back on their side if necessary and begin CPR immediately if required. In addition to these measures, it is wise to engage in regular physical exercise, stay hydrated and limit alcohol intake as much as possible; furthermore any bumps and bruises suffered as a result of fainting should be attended to immediately.