Grooming syncope: what to know

Syncope is a brief loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Grooming may involve standing still, stretching the neck, heat, pain from pulling hair, emotional stress or pressure around the scalp. These factors can activate a reflex that slows the heart or widens blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. Dehydration, low blood sugar or anaemia can make fainting more likely. Atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm problems are less common explanations but matter because they can be serious. A near-faint may cause warmth, sweating, nausea, blurred vision or ringing in the ears first.

Stop grooming immediately and lie flat with your legs raised, or sit with your head lowered if lying down is unsafe. Tell someone nearby, loosen tight clothing and move away from heat. Do not stand quickly after symptoms settle. If the person is unconscious, place them on their side, check breathing and seek emergency help if they do not wake promptly or are injured. Arrange a medical review after any unexplained faint, particularly when episodes repeat.

Call emergency services for fainting during exercise, chest pain, breathlessness, a racing or irregular heartbeat, severe headache, seizure-like movements, significant injury, prolonged confusion or failure to wake. Urgent assessment is also needed when there is no warning, a family history of sudden cardiac death, or a known heart condition.

Ask whether blood pressure, blood tests or an electrocardiogram are appropriate, which triggers to avoid, and how to respond if the warning symptoms return.