Written by: Reshu Rani Singh - 29023, Grade VI
Posted on: 07 July, 2022
In our day to day life, we find people passing out due to lack of food or poor health. But, what exactly happens to their bodies during such a moment ? Fainting is medically known as syncope, is a temporary loss of consciousness. It happens because our brain stops receiving enough oxygen-rich blood to continue its daily activities and loses the normal state of being awake and understanding what is happening around us.
There are multiple factors behind this loss of consciousness. The most common reason is a drop in blood pressure due to a strong vasovagal response often triggered by our reaction to something that socks us. This reflex is named after the vagus nerve, which runs from your brain to heart, lungs and digestive tract. The job of the vagus nerve is to stabilize the blood pressure when we are shocked or frightened, which leads to an increase in heart rate, shooting up the blood pressure. Sometimes these nerves malfunction and reduce the blood pressure more than normal, leading to a lack of blood supply to our brain, resulting in a brief loss of consciousness or fainting. Beside, reacting to the sight of something that scares you or having an intense or emotional reaction, some other triggers can also cause a vasovagal syncope, getting overheated, standing for a long time, intense physical activity, etc..
It’s vital to know the early signs of fainting to avoid making things worse. And what are the signs? If someone is about to faint, they will show symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, paleness, vision changes, fast or irregular heartbeat, sweating and vomiting. If That happens immediately stop doing whatever you are involved in and if possible, lie down on the floor. This can help prevent a fainting attack, letting blood get to the brain. And once you feel better, stand up slowly. To prevent fainting in the first place, make sure to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. It’s vital to keep your blood circulating by moving around whenever possible, playing outside, doing regular exercise, and avoiding sitting in one place for a longer period.
Whenever you feel anxious, slowly breathe into a paper bag to stabilize the emotions and blood pressure. If you have only fainted once, it was brief, and the reasons are obvious, then there is usually no need to worry about it. But, if it happens regularly, then it's crucial to make an appointment with your doctor.
