Should I be worried about frequent fainting episodes?

Doctor's Answers 2

I am sorry to hear of your symptoms.

Fainting as you have found out by now has many causes though the vast majority are benign. But, it appears that you have already had a thorough clinical examination and investigations as you list MRI and heart screening amongst them.

However it would be useful to know whether the MRI was of the heart or brain and whether ECG, Echocardiography, Holter, exercise stress test and Tilt table test were part of the tests.

Your family history is also important.

If these tests were indeed perfomed and were normal, the most likely cause is Vaso-vagal syncope or VVS, which usually occurs in young adults and has "autonomic" features such as vomiting, sweating and greying of vision etc.

You appear to have had some warning and took the appropriate corrective steps such as drinking water and sweets. I would suggest that you may want to revisit the physician who performed your health screening earlier.

If the episodes are fairly frequent and disrupting your quality of life medication maybe required occasionally.

Have a look at this link for further info.

Hope this helps!

Regards

Dr Nandakumar

Fainting may have a variety of causes. A simple episode, also called a vasovagal attack, is the most common type of fainting spell. It is most common in children and young adults.

A vasovagal attack happens because blood pressure drops, reducing circulation to the brain and causing loss of consciousness.

Typically an attack occurs while standing and is frequently preceded by a sensation of warmth, nausea, lightheadedness and visual "grayout." If the syncope is prolonged, it can trigger a seizure.

In my clinical practice, I have come across patients who suffer from a simple fainting spell due to anxiety, fear and intense emotional stress. If a person becomes intensely anxious or panicked and breathes too quickly, he or she may feel faint from hyperventilation.

Postural hypotension

Some patients have a problem with the way their body regulates their blood pressure, particularly when they move too quickly from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. This condition is called postural hypotension and may be severe enough to cause fainting. This type of fainting is more common in the elderly. The drop in blood pressure can also be a side effect of medications.

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Why do I always feel faint?

What I notice in my clinical practice is that many of my patients who complain of feeling faint have overbreathing or hyperventilation. We normally breathe automatically but external events or stresses can change our breathing pattern and make us feel short of breath, anxious, or ready to faint. When this happens, it’s called hyperventilation, or overbreathing. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. In situations where there is overbreathing, we will lose too much carbon dioxide in the air that we breathe out.

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