Patient Care — Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Phone: 210-257-1888 or tollfree 1-877-493-5040
Fainting, syncope - Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness as a result of transiently decreased blood flow to the brain.
Lightheadedness is a vague feeling of dizziness or a feeling like a person is going to faint.
Fainting or syncope is characterized by sudden pallor, loss of consciousness, and occasionally slight twitching or convulsive movements. For a parent, seeing their child faint may be a terrifying experience.
A simple faint (vasovagal faint) is rarely preceded by pain, pressure, constriction in the chest, or shortness of breath. It can be preceded by weakness, giddiness, nausea, dizziness, and a sense that the surrounding noise is growing fainter and fainter.
Pathologic fainting or syncope may also be associated with heart conditions, most often abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Common Causes: Light-headedness can accompany mild illness such as the flu or the common cold, and may be a symptom of anxiety. Light-headedness without other symptoms is usually not serious.
Call your health care provider if:
- there has been a complete loss of consciousness, especially if it occurs after a head injury or if there is no readily identifiable cause (such as a susceptible individual who faints when they have blood drawn).
- fainting is accompanied by a feeling that the room is spinning (vertigo) or any other symptoms.
- fainting occurs in a susceptible person more often than rarely.
- this is the first time a person has ever fainted.
- medication or alcohol is suspected as the cause.
- lightheadedness lasts for longer than 3 weeks.
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