I feel like I am going to faint

Near-fainting can happen when blood pressure falls after standing, during pain, after missing food, or when you are overheated. Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion can reduce the fluid available to maintain circulation. Low blood sugar may cause sweating, shaking, hunger, irritability or confusion.

Anaemia or Iron Deficiency Anaemia may be associated with tiredness, breathlessness or a fast heartbeat. A racing or irregular heartbeat can also accompany heart rhythm problems such as Atrial Fibrillation. Spinning triggered by head movement points more toward Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, while worry or panic can produce lightheadedness without actual loss of consciousness.

Stop what you are doing and lie flat, preferably with your legs raised. If lying down is impossible, sit with your head lowered between your knees. Loosen restrictive clothing, move away from heat and tell someone nearby. Do not stand suddenly, drive or climb until you feel fully steady.

After recovery, sip water and eat a small snack if you may have missed a meal and can swallow normally. Note the trigger, posture, symptoms, medicines and how quickly you recovered. Arrange an appointment when episodes repeat or remain unexplained.

Call emergency services for fainting with chest pain, severe breathlessness, a sustained racing heartbeat, seizure-like movements, serious injury, confusion, or new weakness or speech trouble. Seek prompt assessment if faintness occurs during exercise, while lying down, with heavy bleeding, or after a new medicine.

Ask whether your blood pressure, heart rhythm, blood count, glucose or medicines need review. Explain whether the feeling followed standing, heat, exertion, a missed meal, stress or head movement, and mention any actual fainting.