Fainting or Syncope is described as the loss of consciousness due to temporary interruption of cerebral oxygenation. It may be due to the interruption of blood flow to the brain. Unconsciousness usually lasts for less than 30 seconds and is accompanied by loss of muscle tone which may result in fall to ground. First patient experiences dizziness, clamminess of the skin, decreased vision, Tinnitus, complete loss of vision, weakness of limbs in the respective manner.

Fainting or Syncope is described as the loss of consciousness due to temporary interruption of cerebral oxygenation. It may be due to the interruption of blood flow to the brain. Unconsciousness usually lasts for less than 30 seconds and is accompanied by loss of muscle tone which may result in fall to ground. First patient experiences dizziness, clamminess of the skin, decreased vision, Tinnitus, complete loss of vision, weakness of limbs in the respective manner. It is also known as vasovagal syncope and is usually harmless and requires no treatment but it is always better to undergo some imaging and blood investigations to rule out serious causes of fainting, such as heart diseases. Generally patients don’t remember about the incidence or they are not able to tell that was there any loss of consciousness or not so those patients need to be questioned appropriately to determine whether there was a true syncopal attack or not. It is always better to ask someone who was accompanying the patient at that time. The practice is useful in distinguishing the syncope from other symptoms like seizures; TIA etc. early identification will facilitate the workout and early treatment and care of the patient. Syncope is a symptom and not a disease. It may point underlying cardiac or other diseases. In medical terms for brain either the blood flow or the oxygenation of the blood is impaired for the reticular activating system or for either of the hemispheres of the brain due to which the oxygen supply and the glucose supply to the brain is affected.

Symptoms and Signs

• A cold, clammy skin due to evaporation of excessive sweat
• Feeling of lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Sometimes feeling of heat

Causes

• Emotional Stress
• Postural hypotension
• Pregnancy
• Hypoglycemia
• Arrhythmia
• Bradycardia
• Tachycardia
• Heart block
• Exertion

Investigations and Diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram
• It records the electrical activity of the heart and can easily detect if there is any problem with the heart rhythms like high and very low heart rates.
• Echocardiogram
• In this ultrasound waves are used to detect any structural abnormality of the heart like wall defects and incompetent valves.
• Stress test
• Electrical impulses of the heart are recorded while patient is stressed physically to detect if there is any hidden conduction defects in the electrical impulses
• In some cases blood tests are also helpful

Treatment and Drugs

• Beta blockers are frequently prescribed to the patients
• Antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed to the patient’s diagnosed arrhythmia
• If syncope is due to fall in blood pressure than patient may be prescribed some vasodilator to cope with low blood pressure
• If there are frequent attacks of syncope then the patient may be prescribed some antidepressant medications to relieve some emotional stress if any.