Fainting has been portrayed lightly in movies over the years and you may think of the Victorian era and of women in corsets that cut off the ability to breathe properly. The truth is that fainting spells still happen to people today in 2020 and it can be indicative of an underlying health issue.

In medical jargon, fainting spells are referred to by the term syncope. They can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, during this Tim the person loses consciousness after a feeling of dizziness.

Fainting spells occur because your brain is not getting enough blood flow and resulting oxygen. There are dozens of reasons why this could happen.

The severity of a spell can vary. Most will regain consciousness and be ok within a few short minutes. Fainting spells generally do not require medical attention. They are the result of situation induced trauma – extreme fear or emotional reactions, or even severe pain.

They can be brought on by something as simple as standing up from a seated position too fast, coughing too hard, standing in one position for an extended period of time, or straining excessively during a bowel movement. Medications may also spur a fainting spell if they lead to a drop in blood pressure.

Fainting Spells can be classified into three different categories:

Vasovagal – Occurs when a person is afraid or experiences emotional trauma or stress.

Situational – This occurs from physical strain, such as coughing or extreme pain.

Carotid Sinus – This type of fainting occurs when the carotid artery in the neck is constricted in some way.

There are a few signs that should raise red flags and lead you to seek medical attention.

In some cases, fainting can be the sign of a serious underlying medical condition, such as diabetes, and may be an indication that there are blockages in your heart or that you have an irregular heartbeat also referred to as a heart arrhythmia.

If you have fainted more than once within a one month period, or if you have a history of frequent fainting spells, then a trip to your physician is definitely recommended, at the very least to rule out anything serious.

If you are experiencing fainting spells its important to get to the root of your problem so that you may address it properly, contact the physicians at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates by calling (813) 975-2800. www.tampacardio.com.