Sudden low blood pressure
Perhaps you have experienced it: you are very hot or you get up quickly and suddenly you get spots before your eyes. Suddenly you are on the ground. It is a bit of a shock if you just pass out, but usually the cause is harmless. What exactly is fainting?
The brain needs enough oxygen to function. Is there too little oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain, you may faint. You lose consciousness and the tension in your muscles, causing you to fall over or collapse. In medical terms, this is called syncope or collapse.
Fainting may seem scary, but actually this response from your body protects your brain. When you lie down, your blood flows more easily to the brain without the heart having to pump hard. This way your brain gets enough oxygen again, so that you regain consciousness.
Causes
A common and harmless cause of fainting is a problem with blood pressure regulation. Your blood pressure drops suddenly and the heart starts beating slower, so your brain doesn’t get enough blood. Your blood pressure can drop quickly as a result of anxiety, pain, standing for a long time, heat, little food or drink and strong emotions. This is especially common in young people around the age of 15.
Standing up abruptly can also make you dizzy. If you get up too quickly and your blood vessels don’t constrict enough, your blood will fall to your abdomen and legs, causing blood pressure to drop (orthostatic hypotension). Elderly people in particular suffer from this, but also people who use certain medication, such as medicines for Parkinson’s disease, psychosis or depression and sleeping pills.
In rare cases, fainting is the result of a heart defect, such as a heart rhythm disorder or heart valve disease.
lie down
You can pass out without any warning, but sometimes you feel it coming. For example, you become dizzy, you get hot and sweat and your heart beats faster. The blood drains from your face, making you pale. If you suffer from these signs, it is best to lie down with your legs up or sit with your head down. When the faintness disappears, you can get up again very calmly. Another method is to cross your legs and tighten your leg and abdominal muscles: in this way you increase your blood pressure and you can sometimes prevent fainting.
Is someone else close to you fainting? Check if the victim is breathing, loosen tight clothing and provide fresh air. Put the legs a little higher than the head, so that the blood flows more easily to the brain. Let the patient lie down for another ten minutes after he regains consciousness.
To the doctor?
A fainting spell is no cause for concern. Sometimes it happens more often, but you already know exactly what triggers a faint, such as warm rooms or too little food. If you faint several times in a few months, it makes sense to have the underlying cause investigated.
If you have fainted during physical exertion or if someone in your family has died suddenly at a young age, it is also important to see a doctor. This can then determine whether there is a serious condition, such as: diabetes, heart failure or other illness.
