Fainting in Women

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. It can last from seconds to 30 minutes.

Signs & Symptoms

Just before fainting, a person may feel a sense of dread and feel dizzy. She may see spots and have nausea. Her face may turn pale, she could go into a cold sweat, and she could fall over.

If a person falls and can’t remember the fall itself, she has fainted.

Causes & Risk Factors

Fainting is due to a sudden drop in blood flow or glucose supply to the brain. This causes a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical reasons for this include:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is common in early pregnancy. It can also occur in diabetes, in persons on severe diets, etc.
• Anemia.
• Any condition that causes 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.
• Eating disorders.
• Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
• Seizures. Dehydration.
• Irregular heartbeat or heart beating too fast or too slow.

Other Causes of Fainting

• Any procedure that stretches the cervix, such as having an IUD inserted.
• Extreme pain.
• A sudden change in body position, such as standing up too fast.
• Sudden emotional stress or fright.
• A side effect of some prescription drugs, such as some that lower blood pressure.
• Recreational drugs or excessive alcohol.
• Being in hot, humid weather or a stuffy room.

What to do when someone faints: Dos

• Catch the person before she falls.
• Make sure the person is breathing and has a pulse. If not, call 911 and start CPR.
• Lie the person down with her head below the level of the heart. Raise the legs 8 to 12 inches to promote blood flow to the brain. If the person can’t lie down, have her sit down and put her head between her knees.
• Turn the person’s head to the side so the tongue doesn’t fall back into the throat and to prevent choking on vomit.
• Loosen any tight clothing, but keep the person warm, especially if it is chilly.
• Apply cool moist towels to the person’s face and neck.

What to do when someone faints: Don’ts