Syncope, or fainting, can be caused by a drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. The three main types are vasovagal, carotid sinus, and situational. Treatment options include medication, surgery, and therapies to prevent blood pooling in the legs.
There are three main types of syncope or fainting: vasovagal, carotid sinus, and situational. Syncope can occur when the brain doesn’t get enough blood, which is usually due to a drop in heart rate, followed by a drop in blood pressure. A person may feel dizzy or pale before a syncopal episode. He or she may develop a clammy cold sweat, become very hot, or experience blackening or whitening of the visual field. If fainting occurs frequently and interferes with a person’s quality of life, a doctor may prescribe medications, perform surgery, or recommend some other therapies to keep blood from pooling in the legs.
Vasovagal syncope is the most common type of fainting. It can occur in response to a triggering event such as seeing blood, sudden pain, or an extreme emotion. During the triggering event, the nervous system slows the heart rate, the veins in the legs dilate, and blood pools in the legs. This causes a decrease in blood pressure, which restricts blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Fainting is the result.
Carotid sinus syncope and situational syncope occur much less frequently than the vasovagal type. Fainting can occur when a person turns their head, thereby cutting off blood flow through the carotid artery; a tight collar can have the same effect. Sometimes the stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract leads to fainting. A person may also pass out when coughing or going to the bathroom.
Signs of syncope can include a sudden feeling of lightheadedness. Some people may feel dizzy. Others may notice that blood has drained from the presyncopal person’s face and that their skin has become very pale.
A person who is about to pass out may notice that he or she breaks out in a cold, clammy sweat. The opposite may occur before losing consciousness and the person may suddenly become very hot. Sometimes, before passing out, a person’s field of vision may go completely black or completely white so that they cannot see anything.
In some cases, syncope can interfere with daily life. In these cases, a doctor may prescribe a beta-blocker, an antidepressant, or an asthma or low blood pressure medication that narrows blood vessels. Some patients with severe syncope may have a pacemaker inserted.
To keep blood from pooling in your legs, your doctor may recommend certain therapies. These techniques may include learning to identify triggers and then tensing the hand muscles in a fist. Crossing your legs and tensing your thigh muscles can also prevent fainting. Your doctor may also recommend foot exercises, increasing your salt intake, or wearing support stockings as other ways to reduce the chance of fainting.
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