Anyone is susceptible to fainting, but some people seem to faint more often or more easily than others. Some factors include low blood pressure, genetics, dietary factors, psychological make up, infection, or allergies. When your heart doesn't send enough blood to your brain, fainting can occur.
Just before fainting, you may experience dizziness, sweating, ringing in your ears, feeling tingly or light headed, feeling that the room is moving, shortness of breath, or have pale skin. Common causes for fainting include:
- When your body gets very overheated (commonly called "sun stroke"). For some people, being in a warm environment such as a hot tub or warm, crowded room is enough to cause fainting.
- Immediately after overexertion
- After emotionally stressful events
- Due to hyperventilation or breath-holding
- Because of a drop in your blood sugar level
- Soon after eating (when blood flow has shifted to your digestive process)
- After sudden movements (standing up fast, for example)
- After prolonged periods of standing (waiting in line at the grocery store or standing in the shower, for example)
- If you're taking medicine for high blood pressure, or other prescription medications
- If you're using alcohol, cocaine, marijuana
- If you are pregnant
- Because of head injury
- Due to illness or infection
- Coughing, urinating, or stretching may sometimes restrict oxygen flow
- If you're dehydrated
- As a result of pain
Ways to Avoid Feeling Faint
Where practical, avoid situations that may cause you to feel faint.
- If your faintness can be attributed to heat, take cooler baths, avoid saunas and hot tubs, and don't sunbathe.
- Use caution when involved in any physical activity to avoid overexertion.
- Avoid standing still for prolonged periods of time. Flex your knees, and shift your weight from one leg to the other.
- Avoid alcohol and other drugs.
- Get up slowly from a resting position.
- Drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine drinks.
If you do feel faint, lie down, and loosen any restrictive clothing. If possible, elevate your legs eight to 12 inches. If you cannot lie down, sit down and put your head between your knees. You should feel better in a few minutes.
If you find yourself fainting frequently (even once a month), check with your healthcare provider to rule out illness or disease as a cause for your fainting spells. You may suffer have a medical condition called neurally mediated hypotension, commonly called fainting reflex. Treatment for the condition includes medication, increased salt intake, extra fluid intake, and regular exercise. |
