Passing out Or Fainting, What Causes Them And What Are The Remedies.

Fainting or syncoperefers to a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness, usually because of a lack of oxygen in the brain.

A feeling of lightheadedness, weakness, and dizziness usually follow fainting or passing out episodes.

Though fainting isn’t a medical condition, it is most times a symptom of an undiagnosed medical issue.

Causes of fainting

Many reported cases of fainting usually have no clear cause, but there are a few factors that may lead to passing out. Some of them are:

Fast breathing causes an abnormal reduction in the carbon dioxide levels in the bodywhich in turn leads to the narrowing of blood vessels that will reduce the amount of blood going into the brain.This leads to passing out or syncope.

  • Substance abuse- Excess consumption or abuse of drugs or alcohol will most times lead to organ failures and this, in turn, results in occasional passing out or fainting.
  • Diabetesaffects your body’s ability to produce or use insulin, a hormone that allows you to turn glucose into energy.

This means a diabetic patient will be unable to convert glucose present in his blood into energy, and will also have an abnormally high level of ketones.

All these factors, when left untreated can lead to passing out and sometimes death.

  • Dehydration is defined as excessive loss of water or body fluids due to high temperature or strenuous exercise.

A person suffering from high levels of dehydration may experience sleepiness, skin dryness, dry mouth, reduced urination, and most times fainting.

  • Shock or emotional stress is one of the significant or leading causes of fainting. A person under shock or emotional stress will experience increased fear, anxiety and a feeling of insecurity, which can lead anyone into a state of mental instability. This is enough to result in fainting.
  • Depression is a mental condition that is usually common in early adulthood.
  • Most times drugs that work on the brain proves effective in eradicating this mental condition, they come with a side effect that causes nausea, nervousness, sexual problems, and syncope or passing out.
  • Irregular heartbeat reading or rate causes your heart to race or flutter, it also interferes with blood motion in your body. This may lead to brain or lung damage and could generally result in lots of syncopic episodes.
  • Low blood pressureis also known as hypotension, though low blood pressure is good in some cases, it may result in a feeling of tiredness or dizziness.

In this case, it may just be a sign or symptom of an undiagnosed medical condition that requires proper medical attention.

  • Seizures are changes in the brain’s electrical activities. These changes can cause dramatic, noticeable symptoms or may not cause any symptoms.

Cases of severe seizures usually have symptoms such as uncontrollable violent shaking.

Seizure patients usually lose consciousness when they are under seizure attacks.

  • Allergensare foreign substances or materials that when introduced into your body causes your immune system to respond either by inflammation, wheezing, sneezing, amongst others.

These allergic reactions tend to block airways, and this may result in syncope.

  • Atherosclerosisis a narrowing of the arteries caused by a build-up of plague. It’s also called arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

As one age, cholesterol and fat begin to form a cluster that blocks the arteries and makes it extremely difficult for blood to flow to the brain and other parts of the body. This will result in dizziness and fainting.

 Untreated atherosclerosis can lead to heart failure, stroke or heart attack.

Remedies Of Fainting

If fainting is caused by an undiagnosed health condition there will be a rising need to treat it as proper treatment will help in avoiding more fainting episodes.

Avoiding possible fainting initiators such as standing still for long periods, dehydration, and staying in a poorly ventilated place leaves you with no need for further treatment.

Persons who usually faint as a result of irritations by different smells or sights can make a conscious effort to always put themselves in safer conditions free for those irritating sights and smells.

How to Administer First Aid to a Fainted Person

Personal administration of first aid

  • Administering first aid can either be personal or for others. When fainting is personal, it’s advised to find a place safe to sit or lie.
  • While sitting carefully place your head in between your knees as it helps to increase blood flow to the brain.
  • While getting up, I personally advise you to do it as slowly and safely as possible.

First aid administration for others

  • In the case of first aid for others, all you need to do is place the fainted person on their back on a firm flat surface. And if they are found breathing, lift their legs 12 inches above the heart level to help increase blood flow into the brain.
  • Removing collars, belts, ties and any tight clothing is also vital when tending to a fainted person.
  • When the person eventually regains consciousness ensure they slowly and carefully get on their feet, then take a good observation for about 1 minute before getting emergency medical assistance.
  • When the person isn’t breathing, it is advisable to make sure that airways are clear and if after doing this there’s still no change, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should is the remaining option.

While doing CPR ensure to contact the local emergency number for swift and better medical attention.

Conclusion

Fainting happens every dayaround us; in some cases when this condition is not swiftly attended toit may lead to a significant and unnecessary loss of life.

Having adequate knowledge on how to handle fainting personally, or that of close friends or relatives is highly recommended.

Helping an unconscious person doesn’t always come off as easy, but it is not still as difficult as most people think.

By following simple resuscitating procedures, you could turn out to be a messiah when it comes to stabilizing the health condition of a person before proper medical help arrives.

I strongly hope that this article has been able to answerevery question you had on fainting, it causes, and possible remedies.