Table of Contents
- Overview
- Treatment
- Prevention
Call 911 if the person who fainted:
- Fell from a height, especially if injured or bleeding
- Does not become alert quickly (within a couple of minutes)
- Is pregnant
- Is over age 50
- Has diabetes (check for medical identification bracelets)
- Feels chest pain, pressure, or discomfort
- Has a pounding or irregular heartbeat
- Has a loss of speech, visual disturbances, or inability to move one or more limbs
- Has convulsions, tongue injury, or loss of bladder or bowel control
Even if it's not an emergency situation, people should be seen by a doctor if they have never fainted before, if they are fainting frequently, or if they have new symptoms associated with fainting. Call for an appointment to be seen as soon as possible.
What to expect at your health care provider's office
When you see your doctor, the focus of the questions will be to determine whether you simply fainted, or if something else happened (like a seizure or heart rhythm disturbance), and to figure out the cause of the fainting episode.
The questions will include:
- Is this the first time you have fainted?
- When did you faint? What were you doing before it occurred? For example, were you going to the bathroom, coughing, or standing for a long time?
- How would you describe the dizziness that you felt before fainting? Did you feel light-headed, off-balance, or like the room was spinning?
- Was the faint associated with convulsions (jerking muscle movements), tongue trauma, or loss of control of your bowels?
- When you regained consciousness were you aware of your surroundings or were you confused?
- Did you experience chest pain or heart palpitations before you fainted?
- Does fainting occur when you change positions -- for example, go from lying to standing?
The physical examination will focus on your heart, lungs, and nervous system. Your
Tests that may be performed include:
ECG Holter monitor X-ray of the chest Echocardiogram EEG - Blood tests for
anemia or body chemical imbalances
Previous Section
Review Date: 05/03/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also
reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
