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Certain types of medications, includingĭiuretics, heart medications, psychiatric drugs, antihistamines, and narcotics, can also trigger a fainting episode, as can alcohol.Īlthough less common, certain serious heart problems can cause fainting. Dehydration can also cause fainting, particularly in the elderly. Straining to make a bowel movement or even urinating can sometimes cause fainting, too.įainting can also occur in people who have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, most common among diabetics because of fluctuating insulin levels. Some people faint because they’ve suddenly constricted their carotid artery (the artery in the neck) by turning their head abruptly or wearing a too-tight collar. In such cases, you can usually figure out the reason - maybe you were standing for a long time, fainted at the sight of blood, or due to some kind of emotional distress, trauma, or pain. When this nerve is overstimulated, a person may faint. One of the most common types of fainting is caused by a sort of crossed signal between the brain and the vagus nerve, a large nerve that runs from the brain to the stomach. That’s what causes the person to fall to the ground. One’s field of vision may even “black out.” This loss of consciousness triggers a loss in muscle control.
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Feeling faint can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. The Signs and Causes of Faintingįainting occurs when one’s blood pressure suddenly drops, resulting in a decrease of blood flow to the brain.Ī number of things can affect blood pressure, from abrupt changes in posture (like going from lying down to standing), dehydration, and certain medications.
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But sometimes fainting can signal a serious medical condition, even heart disease, so getting to the reason behind the incident is important. The person usually regains consciousness within a few minutes, recovers quickly, and returns to normal. An estimated one in three people will faint at some point in their lives. Fainting, also called passing out, can be frightening.
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