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Fainting
Alternate Names : Lightheadedness - Fainting, Passed Out, Syncope, Vasovagal
Fainting: Common Causes
Fainting may occur while you are urinating, having a bowel movement (especially if straining), coughing strenuously, or when you have been standing in one place too long. Fainting can also be related to fear, severe pain, or emotional distress.
A sudden drop in blood pressure can cause you to faint. This may happen if you are bleeding or severely dehydrated. It can also happen if you stand up very suddenly from a lying down position.
Certain medications can lead to fainting because of a drop in your blood pressure or other reason. Common drugs that contribute to fainting include those for anxiety, high blood pressure, or nasal congestion, as well as antihistamines.
Other reasons you may faint include hyperventilation, use of alcohol or drugs, or low blood sugar.
Less common but more serious reasons include heart disease (like abnormal heart rhythm or heart attack) and stroke.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Fainting: Overview & Considerations
• Fainting: Common Causes
• Fainting: Home Care & Treatment
• Call your Health Care Provider if
• What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Dehydration
Tests & Exams
• Blood Pressure
• Chest X-Ray
• ECG
• Echocardiogram
• EEG
• Holter Monitor (24h)
Other Topics
• Bleeding
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Dizziness
• Rapid Deep Breathing (Hyperventilation)
• Unconsciousness - First Aid
Review Date : 8/12/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Bridget Martell, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (05/26/2003).
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