Claúdio Ferreira Nurse Coordinator LUZ 24 Fainting is a transient loss of consciousness due to decreased blood flow to the brain followed by a rapid and complete recovery. A faint is of short duration . It does not last more than a few seconds. With the loss of consciousness, it is not possible to maintain position . Thus, those who are standing and faint fall, and these falls can have consequences. If you are driving or doing any activity that needs attention or where the stability is not assured, fainting can be the cause of accidents and serious problems. A faint may not have a serious cause, but its consequences can be. What is the cause of fainting? More often, fainting is due to a vasovagal syncope : A stimulus triggers a decrease in heartbeat and/or a dilation of blood cases; Blood pressure suddenly decreases and so does blood flow to the brain, and these are self-limiting. Different stimuli can trigger a vasovagal syncope , for example: Standing for a long time; Changing position suddenly, for example standing up abruptly; Being very tired, dehydrated or in a hot and stuffy place; Psychological stress, such as being afraid that something happens, a sudden emotion; Very intense pain situation. Fainting is usually preceded by symptoms , which can be: Dizziness; Vision changes; Pallor; Sweat, heat or cold; Feeling of empty head. In addition to the vasovagal syncope, there are other causes of fainting that may not be cause for alarm either. However, a loss of consciousness can also be caused by more serious problems, namely heart problems, which should be investigated. It can also be confused with other situations. What to do If you have the feeling you are going to pass out Lie or sit with your head between your knees and wait for the symptoms to go away. Take a rest and when you get up, do not do it quickly. Start by sitting down first and breath calmly. You should only try to stand up again if you have no symptoms. If you feel unwell and have symptoms, you should lie down again. If symptoms persist, seek medical help. You can call LUZ 24 - 217 104 424. When someone faints If the person who passed out does not have bleeding from the mouth, has not vomited, or has injuries that preclude it: Lay the person on her back; Lift their legs about 30-40 cm off the floor and keep it that way; Shake gently and call the person; Loosen tight clothing, especially around the neck and waist, for example collars with buttons, high collars, zipped jackets, belts and trouser buttons, among others; Note: If the person who passed out has vomited or is bleeding from the mouth , do not lay her on their back, lie her on one of their sides. When conscious is regained Ask the person to continue for some time in the same position until is fully recovered; Then sit her down and encourage her speaking, for example by asking what happened, to see if her behavior and speech have returned to normal; If the person has not nausea, give water to drink, or a sugary fruit juice if she has not eaten for some time or is diabetic (see here what to do in a diabetic hypoglycemia crisis ); A person who faints may feel tired and previous symptoms may not have completely gone away; Do not leave the person alone until she is fully recovered. ATTENTION If a person who has passed out does not regain consciousness within 60 seconds, lay her on their side and call 112. If there have been complaints of chest pain before fainting or after waking up, or if the person who has passed out is not breathing, call 112. Seek for medical care Even if medical care was not required at the time, any person, child or adult, who had a faint should seek it afterwards. For an opinion and guidance , you can later and calmly, call LUZ 24 - 217 104 424. It is important to make sure that the faint cause is not serious and no further intervention is needed, or to identify and treat any problems that may exist. It is especially important to seek medical attention : When the person hits the head due to fainting; There is fainting during pregnancy, there are heart problems or other known illnesses and have never passed out before; If the faint was repeated a second time; If there are injuries; If during the fainting episode the person has bluish lips or cheeks or an altered heartbeat. If you need to, call LUZ 24 – 217 104 424 – the Hospital da Luz clinical triage service, by phone, available 24 hours, 365 days, for adults and children. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
