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What Would Cause A Blackout Happen To A Fifty-year Old Man.

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Posted on Sat, 23 Jun 2012
Question: What would cause a blackout happen to a 50 year old man not alcohol realted
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (20 minutes later)
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

For syncope/fainting to occur, either the reticular activating system in the brain needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose.

So it can be due to fall in BP, hypoglycemia, dehydration and inadequate electrolytes(sodium and calcium) in the body, postural hypotension, blockage of arteries supplying blood to the brain esp. the carotids,anemia,vasovagal attacks or underlying neurological conditions.

At 50 years of age, it can happen due to cholesterol plaque in one of the carotid arteries or due to an abnormal rhthym of the heart. I will suggest doing an ECHO Doppler of the heart, a 24 hours holter monitoring to look for any rhythm disturbances in the heart and a color Doppler of the vessels of the neck. If these tests are normal, then it will be quite reassuring.
Other than that the hemoglobin levels should also be checked to rule out any anemia.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Please accept my answer in case you have no follow up query.

Wishing you good health.








Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. Jasvinder Singh (1 hour later)
Ok when it happened he was out side the house with the dog I heard a bang on the garage door and ran out side when I got to him he was on the ground unreaponsive I shook him one time no hard but more to get attention and the started to call his name about ten seconds later he came to he was talking real XXXXXXX and didn't really know what was going on when I asked him he said that he remembers being by the doer than my and my mother stand by him calling his name.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (23 hours later)
Hello,

Thanks for writing back to me.

From the symptoms, it can be due to an epileptic fit, mini-stroke or due to rhythm disturbance of the heart. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is caused by the temporary disturbance of blood supply to a restricted area of the brain; resulting in brief neurologic dysfunction that persists, by definition, for less than 1 hour; if symptoms persist then it is categorized as a stroke. The most common cause of a TIA is an embolus (a small blood clot) that occludes an artery in the brain.

It can be diagnosed after physical examination, blood pressure monitoring, ECG (Electrocardiogram), echocardiography and carotid Doppler. He also needs to get a MRI (Magnetic Resonant Imaging) head and a 24 hours holter monitoring of the heart done.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Please accept my answer in case you have no follow up query.

Wishing you good health.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Jasvinder Singh

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 1578 Questions

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What Would Cause A Blackout Happen To A Fifty-year Old Man.

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

For syncope/fainting to occur, either the reticular activating system in the brain needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose.

So it can be due to fall in BP, hypoglycemia, dehydration and inadequate electrolytes(sodium and calcium) in the body, postural hypotension, blockage of arteries supplying blood to the brain esp. the carotids,anemia,vasovagal attacks or underlying neurological conditions.

At 50 years of age, it can happen due to cholesterol plaque in one of the carotid arteries or due to an abnormal rhthym of the heart. I will suggest doing an ECHO Doppler of the heart, a 24 hours holter monitoring to look for any rhythm disturbances in the heart and a color Doppler of the vessels of the neck. If these tests are normal, then it will be quite reassuring.
Other than that the hemoglobin levels should also be checked to rule out any anemia.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Please accept my answer in case you have no follow up query.

Wishing you good health.