Symptom guide · General Practice & Family Medicine
Fainting
What fainting can point to, how urgent it is, and who assesses it in the UAE.
Also known as syncope, blackout
Be assessed today
Fainting usually has a benign explanation, but a small number of causes are serious and need to be excluded quickly.
Go now if any of these apply
- A headache that comes on instantly and reaches full intensity within a minute
- Headache with fever, a stiff neck, rash, or confusion
- Any new weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
- Sudden loss of vision, double vision, or vision loss in one eye
- Fainting during exercise, while lying down, or with chest pain or palpitations
See a doctor the same day. If any of the signs above are present, go to an emergency department instead.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Also known as
- syncope, blackout
- Body region
- Head
- Care area
- General Practice & Family Medicine
- Conditions linked
- 8
Possible causes
Conditions that can cause fainting
Listed alphabetically. This list is not ranked by likelihood.
- AnaemiaCommon among people with anaemia. Long-term condition.
- Atrial FibrillationCommon among people with atrial fibrillation. Long-term condition.
- DehydrationCommon among people with dehydration.
- EpilepsyCommon among people with epilepsy. Long-term condition.
- Heat StrokeCommon among people with heat stroke.
- HypoglycaemiaCommon among people with hypoglycaemia.
- Low Blood PressureVery common among people with low blood pressure.
- Postural HypotensionVery common among people with postural hypotension.
These figures describe how often each condition causes this symptom — not how likely it is that this symptom is caused by that condition. Most symptoms have a common, harmless explanation.
Treatment by cause
How the causes of fainting are treated
Treatment follows the diagnosis, not the symptom. Each row is a linked condition and a treatment used for it.
| If the cause is | Treatment used | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Postural Hypotension | GP Consultation | First line |
| Low Blood Pressure | GP Consultation | First line |
| Dehydration | Oral Rehydration Therapy | First line |
| Atrial Fibrillation | Electrocardiogram | First line |
| Atrial Fibrillation | Anticoagulation Management | First line |
| Hypoglycaemia | GP Consultation | First line |
| Heat Stroke | IV Fluid Therapy | First line |
| Epilepsy | GP Consultation | First line |
| Anaemia | Blood Test | First line |
| Dehydration | IV Fluid Therapy | Second line |
| Hypoglycaemia | Diabetes Education Programme | Second line |
| Anaemia | Iron Supplementation | Second line |
Find care
General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi
Where fainting is assessed depends on what is causing it. These are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.
27 Ar Ruwwad St - Shakhbout City - MSH4 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, MetLife +20 more
Al Ruwais, Al Dhafrah
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +16 more
Al Bahyah - Al Bahyah Old - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, Allianz Care +18 more
Abu Dhabi
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +27 more
Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.
A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.
Related symptoms
Other head symptoms
Find care
Who assesses this in the UAE
These are the specialties that treat the conditions linked to this symptom. Every listed doctor holds a UAE licence.
Questions people ask
Can fainting be a sign of postural hypotension?
Yes. Fainting: very common among people with postural hypotension. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can fainting be a sign of low blood pressure?
Yes. Fainting: very common among people with low blood pressure. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can fainting be a sign of dehydration?
Yes. Fainting: common among people with dehydration. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can fainting be a sign of atrial fibrillation?
Yes. Fainting: common among people with atrial fibrillation. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Keep reading
More about fainting
- Can fainting be a sign of postural hypotension?
- Can fainting be a sign of low blood pressure?
- Can fainting be a sign of dehydration?
- Can fainting be a sign of atrial fibrillation?
- Can fainting be a sign of hypoglycaemia?
- Can fainting be a sign of heat stroke?
- Can fainting be a sign of epilepsy?
- Can fainting be a sign of anaemia?
Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.