Feeling faint without losing consciousness

Near-fainting may cause light-headedness, blurred or narrowing vision, nausea, sweating, weakness, or ringing in the ears while you remain aware. Standing still for a long time, heat, pain, fear, dehydration, skipped meals, or a sudden drop in blood pressure can bring it on.

The symptom does not identify one diagnosis by itself. Anaemia, hypoglycaemia, dehydration, and an abnormal rhythm such as atrial fibrillation are possible contributors. Palpitations, breathlessness, bleeding, heavy periods, or diabetes make a clinical review more useful.

Stop what you are doing and lie flat with your legs raised, or sit with your head lowered if lying down is not possible. Move away from heat and ask someone to stay nearby. Sip water once you feel settled and can swallow safely; eat something if you have missed a meal and can tolerate it. Rise slowly and avoid driving until the episode is understood.

Write down your position, activity, food and fluid intake, medicines, symptoms, and how long recovery took. A clinician may use this pattern alongside blood pressure, heart, and blood tests.

Get emergency help for near-fainting with chest pain, severe breathlessness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, new neurological symptoms, confusion, seizure, significant bleeding, or an episode during exertion. Arrange prompt assessment if episodes recur, happen while lying down, cause a fall, or occur with pregnancy or known heart disease.

Ask whether your blood pressure should be checked in different positions, whether an electrocardiogram is appropriate, and whether blood tests should look for anaemia, glucose changes, or dehydration. Bring a list of medicines and describe any palpitations or family history of sudden cardiac problems.