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.