What is Syncope

Syncope is another word for fainting or passing out. A person is considered to have syncope if they become unconscious and go limp, and then soon recovers. Syncope occurs once in a great while, if ever and it is not a sign of a serious illness. Syncope can be the first and only warning sign before an episode of sudden cardiac death that can also lead to serious injury. Syncope occurs when there is not enough blood flow to the brain. 

The Types and Causes of Syncope

There are many potential types, but the most common and serious ones is the cardiac syncope (when a patient has a heart or blood vessel that affects blood flow to the brain), reflect syncope (neutrally mediated syncope), vasovagal syncope (when there is sudden drop in blood pressure, and which also causes a drop of blood flow to the brain), vasodepressor syncope, and the common faint. Common causes of fainting include heat, pain, distress the sight of blood anxiety and hyperventilating. Syncope can also be caused by the decreased cerebral blood flow leading to transient loss of consciousness and postural tone, associated with spontaneous recovery. 

The Symptoms of Syncope

The common symptoms could be light-headedness, diaphoresis, nausea, blacking out, falling for no reason, dizziness, having the feeling of being drowsy, fainting after eating or exercising, feeling weak when standing, changes in visions (e.g. seeing spots that aren’t there), experiencing tunnel vision and having headaches. Medical symptoms include a sudden drop in your blood pressure, a drop in your heart rate and changes in the amount of blood in areas of your body. Mental and physical situations can include dehydration, emotional distress, anxiety, fear, pain, hunger, the use of drugs and alcohol, hyperventilation, coughing forcefully and urinating with complications (micturition syncope).

How to Treat Syncope

The treatment options will depend on what is causing the syncope and the results of the evaluation and testing. The goal of treatment is to keep you from having episodes of syncope. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, taking medication or making changes to your prescription, wearing a support garment or compression stocking to improve blood circulation and making changes to your diet. Initial measures include performing physical counter-pressure manoeuvres, increasing salt and fluid intake, and reducing or withdrawing hypotensive medications when appropriate. 

Conclusion

While syncope is not always severe, it can potentially be life-threatening. You may faint and fall into dangerous places or objects that are statistically more prone to lead to fatality than from fainting. It is wise for people to keep abreast with their health and be conscious of any changes to the body to alert to doctors. Early detection can save lives as it provides an opportunity to deal with any medical issue in a way that is less severe.