Fainting management: practical steps

Some episodes follow heat, pain, prolonged standing, emotional stress, or standing suddenly. Dehydration can make blood pressure fall, while hypoglycaemia can cause sweating, shaking, confusion, and collapse. Anaemia may contribute to tiredness and dizziness. Atrial Fibrillation can produce an irregular pulse or palpitations. Similar symptoms can have different causes, so avoid changing prescribed medicines without advice.

At the first warning, sit or lie down immediately and raise your legs if comfortable. Once recovered, stand in stages and keep fluids available. Eat regular meals unless your clinician has given a different plan. Keep a diary of triggers, posture, symptoms, pulse sensations, medicines, and recovery. Ask someone to accompany you if you feel unsafe walking, and avoid driving until a clinician advises you.

Call emergency services for abnormal breathing, prolonged unresponsiveness, chest pain, severe breathlessness, a major injury, new weakness, or repeated episodes without recovery. Get urgent assessment after fainting during exercise, while lying down, or with a sudden irregular heartbeat. Arrange prompt medical review for a first faint, recurrent fainting, pregnancy, diabetes, or known heart disease.

Ask which trigger is most plausible, whether your medicines need review, how to measure your pulse and blood pressure safely, and whether an electrocardiogram or blood tests are appropriate. Agree on clear instructions for work, exercise, driving, and future warning symptoms.