Why do i keep fainting

You may lose consciousness for just a moment if your blood pressure drops when you stand, a condition called orthostatic hypotension. Gravity temporarily pulls blood down into the veins of your legs and feet. This reduces the amount of blood that returns to the heart and which thereafter can be pumped to your brain. Medications, especially blood pressure drugs, often cause orthostatic hypotension. So can dehydration, thyroid disorders, and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease.

When you arrive at the hospital, clinicians will check your blood pressure and ask what medications you're taking. They may draw blood or perform an electrocardiogram to check for irregular heartbeats. The cause of your fainting may be evident immediately. Other times, it will require more testing. Young adults with symptoms indicating vasovagal syncope often are not hospitalized. However, patients ages 50 and older in the United States often are admitted for testing, because the serious causes of fainting become more common in older people.

Despite hospitalization and testing, sometimes the cause of fainting is never determined. The bottom line is that you need medical evaluation if you faint—or if you feel repeatedly as if you are about to faint.

Note carefully any symptoms you remember before or after you pass out. Ask anyone who may have seen you faint describe to you what they saw. All of this information will help the doctor help you. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. Assess the person for any potential injuries if they have fallen. In an emergency, always call triple zero for an ambulance if the person has not regained consciousness within a few seconds or recovered in a few minutes. Hypotension and fainting Low blood pressure hypotension is a condition characterised by blood pressure that is lower than normal or usual for the person.

Orthostatic hypotension Blood vessels respond to gravity by constricting tightening. Causes of orthostatic hypotension include: Nervous system diseases, such as neuropathy Prolonged bed rest Dehydration Irregular heartbeat heart arrhythmia Changes in blood pressure medication.

Where to get help Your doctor In an emergency, always call triple zero Fainting: first aid , Mayo Clinic. More information here. Low Blood Pressure , Medical Online. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all blood and blood vessels.

Related information. From other websites Active First Aid. Content disclaimer Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Reviewed on: Getting up too soon may bring on another fainting spell. Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Fainting? Why Do People Faint? Here are some of the common reasons for fainting: Physical triggers. What Are the Warning Signs of Fainting? If you think you're going to faint, you can try to stop it by taking these steps: If possible, lie down.

This can help prevent a fainting episode, as it lets blood get to the brain. Be sure to stand up again slowly when you feel better — move to a sitting position for several minutes first, then to standing. Sit down with your head lowered forward between your knees.

You may need to perform rescue breathing or CPR while awaiting help. If you have no prior history of fainting and have fainted multiple times, your doctor will want to determine if an underlying medical condition is the cause. Even people who only pass out once should at least get an electrocardiogram ECG or EKG , which records the electrical activity of your heart. Tell your doctor about the specific circumstances of your fainting spell, such as what you were doing and how you felt immediately before fainting.

Be prepared to give your doctor a complete medical history, including information about previously diagnosed conditions and any prescription and over-the-counter OTC medications you take. Depending on the findings from a physical examination , your doctor may order additional tests. Diagnosis typically starts with EKG. Other tests that may be used to find out why you passed out include:.

In some instances, you may receive a head CT scan. This imaging study checks for bleeding in the brain. Before you run off to see the movie "Jigsaw" or visit a Halloween haunted house, take note: Fainting can be serious business. New guidelines are released explaining why people faint and what medical tests they should get after a fainting episode. Blackouts can happen when you drink alcohol to excess. Learn what causes the blackout, how blacking out can affect you in the long term, and more.

Feeling dizzy? Read on to learn about how to get rid of dizziness and what may be causing it. Some quick remedies to try at home include staying….