Fainting

Just before fainting, you may feel a sense of dread followed by the sense that everything around you is swaying. You may see spots before your eyes. Then you go into a cold sweat, your face turns pale and you topple over.

A common cause of fainting is a sudden reduction of blood flow to the brain which results from a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. These lead to a brief loss of consciousness. A fainting victim may pass out for several seconds or up to ½ hour.

There are many reasons why women faint. Medical reasons include:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) which is common in early pregnancy.
  
• Anemia.
  
• Any condition in which there is a rapid loss of blood. This can be from internal bleeding such as with a peptic ulcer, a tubal pregnancy or a ruptured cyst.
  
• Heart and circulatory problems such as abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack or stroke.
  
• Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia.
  
• Toxic shock syndrome.

Other things that can lead to feeling faint or fainting include:

• Any procedure that stretches the cervix such as having an IUD inserted, especially in women who have never been pregnant.
  
• Extreme pain.
  
• A sudden change in body position like standing up too quickly (postural hypotension).
  
• Sudden emotional stress or fright.
  
• Taking some prescription drugs. Examples are: Some that lower high blood pressure, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or even some over-the-counter drugs such as antihistamines, when taken in excessive amounts.
  
• Know, also, that the risk for fainting increases if you are in hot, humid weather, are in a stuffy room or have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol.

Here are some dos and don’ts to remember if someone faints:

Dos:

• Catch the person before he or she falls.
  
• Place the person in a horizontal position with the head below the level of the heart and the legs raised to promote blood flow to the brain. If a potential fainting victim can lie down right away, he or she may not lose consciousness.
  
• Turn the victim’s head to the side so the tongue doesn’t fall back into the throat.
  
• Loosen any tight clothing.
  
• Apply moist towels to the person’s face and neck.
  
• Keep the victim warm, especially if the surroundings are chilly.

Don’ts:

• Don’t slap or shake anyone who’s just fainted.
  
• Don’t try to give the person anything to eat or drink, not even water, until they are fully conscious.
  
• Don’t allow the person who’s fainted to get up until the sense of physical weakness passes and then be watchful for a few minutes to be sure he or she doesn’t faint again.

Is the person who fainted not breathing and does he/she not have a pulse?
Are signs of a heart attack also present with the fainting? Chest pain or pressure. Pain that spreads to the arm, neck or jaw. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Nausea and/or vomiting. Sweating. Rapid, slow or irregular heartbeat. Anxiety.
Are signs of a stroke also present with the fainting? Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg. Temporary loss of vision or speech, double vision. Sudden, severe headache.
Did the fainting come after an injury to the head.
Do you have any of these with the fainting? Pelvic pain? Black stools?
Have you fainted more than once?
Are you taking high blood pressure drugs or have you recently taken a new or increased dose of prescription medicine?

Do these things when you feel faint:

• Lie down and elevate both legs.
  
• Sit down, bend forward and put your head between your knees.
  

  If you faint easily:
  

• Get up slowly from bed or from a sitting position.
  
• Follow your doctor’s advice to treat any medical condition which may lead to fainting. Take medicines as prescribed but let your doctor know about any side effects, so he/she can monitor your condition.
  
• Don’t wear tight-fitting clothing around your neck.
  
• Avoid turning your head suddenly.
  
• Stay out of stuffy rooms and hot, humid places. If you can’t, use a fan.
  
• Avoid activities that can put your life in danger if you have frequent fainting spells, such as driving a motor vehicle and climbing to high places.
  
• Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation.
  

  When pregnant:
  

• Get out of bed slowly.
  
• Keep crackers at your bedside and eat a few before getting out of bed. Try other foods such as dry toast, graham crackers, bananas, etc.
  
• Eat small, frequent meals instead of a few large. Have a good food source of protein, such as lean meat, low-fat cheese, milk, etc., with each meal. Avoid sweets. Don’t skip meals or go for a long time without eating.
  
• Don’t sit for long periods of time.
  
• Keep your legs elevated when you sit.
  
• When you stand, as in a line, don’t stand still. Move your legs to pump blood up to your heart.
  
• Take vitamin and mineral supplements as your doctor prescribes.
  
• Never lay on your back during the 3rd trimester. It is best to lay on your left side. If you can’t, lay on your right side