What causes fainting?

Question

Last night I blacked out and fainted and just wondered what might have caused this?

Answer 1

1) Lack of food mostly due to excessive dieting
2) high blood pressure
3) low blood pressure
4) high or low sugar levels
5) cholesterol levels
6) also when you get very tired (i mean very)

Answer 2

This is SUCH a broad question. But I'll give you a few examples, because I'm a fainter and these are the reasons I fainted, or people I know have. 1) Anemia, which is lack of iron in the blood. It can cause fainting, but all you need to do is take a vitamin daily. 2) I've fainted plenty of times from talking or seeing blood. I'm really woozy about it. This can apply for different things, not just blood, for different people. 3) Lack of food/ water, obviously. 4) If you get a concussion, there's a long-term side effect of fainting in some people. 5) And of course, if someone is shocked, but that doesn't happen as much in real life as it does on TV. 6) Lack of sleep. There's plenty more, ask your doctor. Peace, Lisa

Answer 3

Fainting or syncope (IPA: /ˈsɪnkəpi/ or /ˈsɪŋkəpi/) is a sudden (and generally momentary) loss of consciousness, or blacking out, due to a lack of sufficient blood and oxygen reaching the brain. The first symptoms a person feels before fainting are dizziness, a dimming of vision, or brown-out and feeling hot. Moments later, the person's vision turns black and he or she drops to the floor (or slumps if seated in a chair).

Factors that influence fainting are taking in too little food and fluids, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, growth spurts, physical exercise in excess of the energy reserve of the body, and lack of sleep. Even standing up too quickly or being in too hot a room can cause fainting.

Recommended treatment is to allow the person to lie on the ground with his or her legs a little elevated. As the dizziness and the momentary blindness passes, the person may experience visual disturbances in the form of small bright dots (phosphene). These will also pass within a few minutes. If fainting happens frequently, or if there is no obvious explanation, it is important to see a doctor about it.

More serious causes of fainting include cardiac (heart-related) causes such as an abnormal heart rhythm (an arrhythmia), where the heart beats too slowly, too rapidly or too irregularly to pump enough blood to the brain. Some arrythmias can be life-threatening. Other important cardiac conditions that can manifest with syncope include subclavian steal syndrome and aortic stenosis.

Fainting can also be due to neurological disorders, stress, etc.

vasovagal syncope, this is the common faint associated with a stress response of the autonomic nervous system which can either suddenly lower the pulse rate, the blood pressure or both together. It is one of the neurally-mediated reflex syncopes.
carotid sinus syncope, also is associated with abnormal sensitivity to external pressure over the region of the nerve sensory organ at the bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries in the neck. Another reflex syncope.
tussive syncope induced by coughing fits, also called larangeal syncope. (Layterm: tussive syncopathy)
An article in the August 2005 edition of the UK medical journal The Lancet was entitled Laughter-induced syncope.
micturition syncope a faint during or shortly after urination. It is also one of the neurally-mediated reflex syncopes.
Some of the other common medical conditions which may result in syncope are orthostatic hypotension (fall in blood pressure when standing) and heart rhythm problems (Cardiac arrhythmia).

Other ways people faint is when they have an overdose of stress or long term stress, which may lead to a heart attack or stroke. At this stage, action should be taken immediately.


[edit] Clinical Symptom
If the patient states, "I felt dizzy with blurry vision, muscle weakness, during the fall I bumped my knee, hit my head and passed out"; then it is not syncope, it is termed pre-syncope.

If the patient states, "I felt dizzy, shadows came over my eyes, and when I woke up I was lying on the floor"; then it is diagnosed as syncope.

Patients who experience syncope episode do not remember falling.

Answer 4

It can be caused by a number of things. Low blood pressure, Low sugar levels, Lack of food. Contact your doctor and get checked over that way you will know what may have caused it. hope your okay x

Answer 5

Low blood pressure is a big cause, pregancy can make you faint also.

Answer 6

I think there are many different causes! But a few that I'm familiar with (because of personal experience) are stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, LOW blood pressure, and malnutrition.

Answer 7

Most obvious cause lack of food and pregnancy eat more and get a test if either or both of these could apply to you. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

best to answer your question is a doctor. fainting is not normal without any obvious reason. Be well.

Answer 10

also low blood pressure can make you passout, especially after u have had some sort of virus. do you know how long you blacked out for, u should get a check up. could you be pregnant?