Fainting (Swooning/Syncope)
FAINTING is a sudden and transient loss of consciousness due to an acute decrease in brain blood supply is called syncope/fainting.
Fainting, or syncope, is a sudden brief loss of consciousness that may only last a few seconds and is followed by full recovery within two minutes. Fainting is usually caused by a relatively minor event such as the sight of blood or just prior to receiving an injection. The casualty usually makes a full recovery once he or she is laid flat.
Fainting refers to a lack of strength with a sensation of impeding loss of consciousness.
Fainting can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Often, everything goes black. The person then turns pale, starts sweating and possibly feels sick. It can happen while standing, sitting down or if one gets up too quickly.
Symptoms of Fainting
1. A sense of giddiness or a sense of swaying occurs.
2. The floor commences to sway, surrounding objects to
3. Senses become confused.
4. Patient begins to yawn or gape.
5. Vision dims. Spots appear before the eyes.
6. Ears begin to ring.
7. Patient feels like vomiting.
8. Face becomes ash gray in colour, pale.
9. Body is bathed in cold sweat.
The deliberate onset often allows the patient enough time to sit or lie down. If the patient succeeds in this, the fainting spell can be averted without loss of consciousness.
If fainting has occurred, the supine posture enables blood to flow back to the brain. Pulse strength increases, colour returns to the face, breathing becomes quicker and deeper and consciousness is regained.
Common Types of Syncope
1. Vasovagal attack (Common faint).
2. Postural (prolonged standing).
3. Cough syncope (Patients with severe cough).
4. Urination syncope (in elderly people).
5. Syncope due to tight collars.
6. Cerebral syncope (brain injury).
7. Hysterical syncope (attention seeking).
Vasovagal Attack (Common faint):
This type of fainting may be experienced by normal people undergoing severe emotional stress, in a hot stuffy smoke filled room.
Postural Syncope
Very common amongst recruits who have to stand upright and still during parades.
Cough Syncope
A person suffering from severe cough has a diminished return of blood flow to the heart from the periphery. This results in decreased flow of pure blood to the brain.
Urination Syncope
This is a condition usually seen in elderly people during or immediately after passing urine particularly after arising from a lying position. The decrease of bladder pressure causes sudden dilatation of blood vessels resulting in pooling of blood in the legs and reduced return to the heart.
Syncope due to tight collars:
People with sensitive receptors within the neck that influence blood flow to the brain (carotid sinus) and who wear tight collars usually suffer this kind of fainting spell.
Cerebral Syncope
This is due to brain trauma and brain diseases which causes a partial or complete occlusion of the large arteries in the neck thereby reducing blood flow to the brain.
Hysterical Syncope
Mostly seen in anxious women or hypochondriac women who tend to draw attention to themselves.
Other causes of syncope:
1. Severe blood loss and anemia.
2. Heart diseases e.g. heart failure, heart valve
3. Lack of oxygen e.g. cooking gas poisoning.
4. Very low blood sugar.
5. Blood brain flow reduced.
Treatment
1. Make patient lie down with legs raised on a pillow.
2. All tight clothing should be loosened.
3. Turn the head to one side to prevent the tongue from obstructing airway.
4. Sprinkle cold water on the face and neck.
5. Apply cold moist towel.
6. Nothing is to be given orally till the patient regains consciousness.
7. The patient is not allowed to rise until the sense of physical weakness has passed.
Prevention
1. Daily exercises.
2. Proper diet.
3. Avoid late nights.
4. Take stock of your smoking and alcohol consumption.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Drink enough water.
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