I'm trying to understand a type of fainting spell in seniors.
2007-01-13 15:40:18 · 11 answers · asked by vee vee 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
nurses4evr is actually not quite correct. Orthostatic hypotension is important to look for and makes people feel light-headed, but most don't fully lose consciousness. The most common cause of fainting ('syncope' in doctorspeak) in both younger people and seniors is something called neurocardiogenic (or neurally-mediated) syncope or a vasovagal faint.
Be careful when you look on the internet for answers to medical questions! There is a LOT of bad information out there. (Just looking around Yahoo! Answers is a horrifying experience for me.) eMedicine.com is a website with articles about specific conditions written by reliable, licensed physicians. I suggest you try this one:
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic876.htm
2007-01-13 20:14:09 · answer #1 · answered by Just the Facts, Ma'am 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can look up things if you have the name, but the most common is called orthostatic hypotension. It's caused when you blood pressure is low from laying down for a long time, (like a nap for a couple of hours) then you get up too fast and you don't get enough blood to the brain for a few seconds. If you have to help someone get up who has this, help them to sit up on the edge of the bed for a minute before they stand up.
2007-01-13 15:46:18 · answer #2 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Medlineplus.gov it is a website of the National Institute of Health
2007-01-13 15:43:42 · answer #3 · answered by AshDaddy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best thing you can do is see your family doctor or go to the clinic. you can try researching it on the internet. it doesnt sound healthy. if you're the one having the spells, definitely forget the internet and SEE THE DOCTOR!
2007-01-13 15:43:39 · answer #4 · answered by Gloria 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could call your medical doctor and ask them the question
2007-01-13 15:43:32 · answer #5 · answered by meljrw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fainting.html
Scroll down and look at Specific Conditions.
2007-01-13 15:46:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummm...conventional wisdom would be a doctor, but the internet is probably better
2007-01-13 15:43:07 · answer #7 · answered by howard o 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try webmd.com- it not only has its own database, but a search that will search in other databases!
2007-01-13 15:43:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try www.webmd.com it's pretty good.
2007-01-13 15:43:04 · answer #9 · answered by cookiefactory4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wikipedia.com may be of some help.
2007-01-13 15:49:39 · answer #10 · answered by §☼ Sunny ☼§ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋