What should you know about stress related syncope?

A frightening sight, emotional shock, pain, prolonged standing, heat, or the sight of blood can trigger a reflex faint. Warning symptoms may include nausea, sweating, warmth, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, weakness, or light-headedness. Recovery often begins after lying flat, but confusion, injury, or ongoing symptoms need attention.

Fainting is not automatically caused by stress. Dehydration, anaemia, low blood glucose, abnormal heart rhythms, and other medical problems can also cause collapse. The pattern, position, warning symptoms, medicines, and family history help a clinician judge the cause.

Lie down promptly and raise your legs if possible. If lying down is not safe, sit and lower your head between your knees. Loosen tight clothing, move away from heat, and ask someone to stay with you. Once fully alert, take fluids if you can swallow safely and rise slowly.

Someone who faints should be protected from injury and checked for normal breathing. Do not give food or drink while they are unconscious, and do not leave them alone immediately after recovery. Record what happened, including any jerking, injury, chest symptoms, or delayed recovery.

Call emergency services for fainting during exercise, chest pain, palpitations, severe breathlessness, a serious injury, seizure-like activity, pregnancy, or failure to wake normally. Arrange prompt medical assessment for a first faint, repeated episodes, fainting without warning, or a family history of sudden cardiac death.

Ask whether you need an examination, blood tests, or an electrocardiogram. Tell the clinician your posture, trigger, warning symptoms, recovery time, fluid intake, medicines, and whether anyone saw the event.