If fainting at the sight of blood or collapsing after standing too quickly sounds familiar, you may likely be experiencing vasovagal syncope, the most common type of fainting. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly one in three people faint at least once in their lifetime. A global study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine also reported that around 40 per cent of women and 30 per cent of men will faint at least once by the age of 60.
Going by the scientific evidence, it can be safely concluded that fainting isn’t a very rare phenomenon and in most cases it isn’t a sign of something life-threatening. But if you’re experiencing frequent episodes, you must get it checked with a doctor to rule out more serious causes.
What happens when you faint?
Syncope or fainting is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain. When specific triggers like blood, emotional stress, or standing too long are involved, it’s called vasovagal or reflex syncope, as per Cleveland Clinic.
Before fainting, many people notice warning signs such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, pale skin, rapid heartbeat, blurry vision, or muffled hearing. Doctors call this the ‘prodrome phase.’
Dr. M Sudhakar Rao, Consultant, Cardiology, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, explains, “These warning signals are your body’s way of saying pay attention. If you lie down or elevate your legs when you sense them, you can often prevent the fainting episode.”
What triggers a vasovagal episode?
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fainting often happens when the body overreacts to certain triggers, such as standing for long periods, being in hot or crowded environments, experiencing strong emotions like fear or anxiety, feeling pain or seeing blood or needles, and even after prolonged exercise.
Dr. Rao adds, “Even everyday situations like standing in a crowded place or fainting at the sight of blood fall under this. It’s about how your nervous system reacts, sometimes overreacts.”
How is vasovagal syncope diagnosed?
Doctors usually start with your medical history, a physical exam, and blood pressure checks while lying, sitting, and standing. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is often done to rule out heart problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that further tests may be needed if the cause of fainting isn’t clear. These can include portable ECG monitors to track heart rhythm, echocardiograms to check blood flow and heart structure, stress tests to evaluate how the heart performs during activity, blood tests to detect possible abnormalities, and a tilt-table test, where blood pressure and heart rate are monitored while the table tilts upward to mimic standing.
What to do during a fainting episode?
Quick actions can often stop a fainting episode in its tracks. As per Mayo Clinic, lying down and lifting your legs to restore blood flow to the brain. If you can’t lie down, tensing your arm and leg muscles or crossing your legs may help. And if someone else faints, the best response is to lay them flat and elevate their legs to quickly restore circulation.
Dr. Rao explains, “The goal is to get blood flowing back to the brain. Most people recover within a minute or two, but they should rest afterwards.”
How to prevent fainting in future?
As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people with vasovagal syncope can manage the condition by avoiding triggers like heat or standing too long, drinking plenty of fluids, and, if advised by a doctor, increasing salt intake. They also recommend staying active with moderate exercise, using compression stockings to improve blood flow, and reviewing medications that may lower blood pressure with your doctor.
As per Dr. Rao, in persistent cases, doctors may consider medications such as SSRIs, corticosteroids, or alpha-1 blockers. However, as per the American College of Cardiology (ACC), these are only prescribed when fainting episodes are frequent and disruptive.
When to be concerned?
Most vasovagal fainting episodes are harmless. But as per the Indian Heart Association (IHA), you should seek medical help if fainting happens often or without clear triggers, if you get injured during an episode, or if it occurs with chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats.
Dr. Rao explains, “Most people live normal, healthy lives despite occasional fainting. The important thing is to not ignore frequent episodes and to get checked for any heart or neurological conditions.”
Vasovagal syncope is common and usually harmless, but it can be disruptive and frightening. Knowing your triggers, acting quickly at the first warning signs, and following a doctor’s advice can help reduce the frequency of fainting.