The doctor explained whether it is possible to avoid fainting

Cardiologist Assoc. Diana Rinkūnienė answered the most common questions about the syncope – temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced cerebral blood flow.

– Is the syncope considered a disease?

– Syncope is a symptom, not a disease. It is a short -term episode of unconsciousness due to a temporary cerebral circulatory disorder. In order to determine the exact cause of the syncope, a detailed survey of the patient, physical examination, measurement of arterial blood pressure while lying and standing, registration of electrocardiogram, and additional examinations if necessary.

– Is it true that most unconsciousness is caused by epilepsy?

– This is a very common myth. Much of the loss of consciousness is misleading with epilepsy, as some signs, such as twitching of the limbs, tension of the body, are similar to those that occur during epileptic seizure. However, epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease with less than 1 %. and the syncope (fainting) experiences up to 50 percent during a period of life. people.

– Is the syncope a major cause of collapse of older people?

– Falls are often confused with syncope. However, the collapse remains conscious, unlike the syncope. The fall of older patients is usually caused by a combination of several factors: imbalance, visual impairment, muscle weakness, joint disease or medication (lowering blood pressure or sedatives). Syncope may also occur in the elderly, so it is necessary to thoroughly analyze the circumstances of the event to determine exactly what happened.

Risk: Sometimes even one fainting of dangerous origin can be a prophet of sudden heart death. / Associative Photo by Kaunas Clinics

– Should salt consumption be avoided to avoid syncope?

– It is important to distinguish between general recommendations from individual cases. For people who are due to low blood pressure, the doctor may recommend increasing salt and fluid intake. This helps to maintain blood volume and raise blood pressure. So in this case, the salt is not harmful, but may even be useful.

If the syncope occurred during exercise, lying down, it was accompanied by a chest, abdomen, headache or frequent heart beat, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention.

– Is the syncope dangerous only when it comes to repeating?

– Many fainting are benign – for example, related to standing in heat, fear or pain, but some loss of consciousness may be a sign of life -threatening heart disease. Therefore, if the syncope occurred during exercise, while lying down, it was accompanied by a chest, abdomen, headache or frequent heartbeat, it is urgent to seek medical attention for the cause of the syncope, risk and treatment for preventive or healing measures. Sometimes, even one syncope of dangerous origin can be a prophet of sudden heart death, so assessing the risk is necessary not only in recurrent but also individual consciousness.

– Is it possible to avoid repetition of fainting?

– In most cases, yes. It is very important to recognize the first symptoms: dizziness, nausea, weakness or topic, flicker in the eyes. If you feel these signs – do not delay: lie down and lift your feet. Avoid sudden changes in your body position, follow your doctor’s instructions for fluid, salt, medication or compression socks. Regular physical activity, especially the strengthening of the leg muscles, also helps maintain stable blood pressure and reduce the risk of recurrence of syncope. If the cardiologist is detected by the heart pathology, the cardiologist selects individual treatment and preventive measures.