About this topic
Fainting is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness. Your brain needs oxygen to work the right way. It gets this from the blood that flows to the brain. If there is a drop in blood flow to your brain for a short time, you may faint. Most often, you wake up after a short time. Fainting can happen because of emotional distress or strong feelings like fear or very bad pain. Standing in one place for too long or standing up too quickly may cause you to faint. You may also faint because of low blood sugar or fluid loss. Some people faint when they strain during a bowel movement. Fainting is not usually serious, but you may get hurt if you fall. ‚
Your doctor will work to find out why you are fainting. It may be an early sign of a more serious problem, like a heart or brain problem. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Move slowly when changing positions. Take extra care when going from sitting to standing or lying to sitting. Sudden movements may cause a fainting event.
- Sit on the edge of the bed and take deep breaths before getting out of bed.
- Move your legs often if you need to sit or stand in one position for a long time.
- Sit or lie down right away if you feel faint or dizzy.
- Position your feet higher than your head when you lie down. This will make the blood flow back to your heart and brain.
- If you feel faint, do not drive a car. Ask your doctor when it is safe to drive, work, and go back to your normal activities.
- Avoid staying under the sun for a long time.
- Ask your doctor how to treat hard stools if you have to strain a lot to have a bowel movement.
- Make your family and friends aware of your health issue and how they can help.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor may order tests like blood test or an ECG to check your heart. Be sure to keep these visits and follow up with your doctor for results. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with dizziness
- Treat an upset stomach
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activities may be limited. Some strenuous activities may cause fainting. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day.
- Eat foods high in fiber to avoid hard stools. Whole grain foods and fruits and vegetables have a lot of fiber.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Headache not helped by pain drugs
- Hit your head after fainting
- Another fainting event
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what I will do to help me stay safe when moving about.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs.
Where can I learn more?
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fainting/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚