Fainting is a form of unconsciousness without loss of consciousness. It can have many causes such as stress and emotion. Medical advice is recommended in the event of recurrent lipothymic discomfort.

Faintness results in a feeling unwell without loss of consciousness. It is distinguished from syncope, which corresponds to discomfort accompanied by a brief, sudden and total loss of consciousness. Lipothymic discomfort is also differentiated from vagal discomfort, also called vasovagal syncope, which can be associated with loss of consciousness.

A lipothymic discomfort is due to a decrease in blood flow to the brain. This can have many explanations. The most common causes of faintness include:

• le stress, anxiety or anguish ;
• emotional shock, which is sometimes referred to as emotional discomfort;
• a fear, a phobia or a panic ;
• a state byhypoglycemia, which is often called hypoglycemic discomfort;
• a heat too intense ;
• a Dehydration ;
• taking certain medications ;
• la fatigue.

How does lipothymic discomfort manifest itself?

During lipothymic discomfort, the feeling of discomfort can manifest itself by various symptoms:

• of the dizziness, with the “head spinning”, an impression of rotation, displacement or loss of balance;
• general weakness of the body, and particularly of the muscles with a loss of muscle strength;
• a pallor ;
• vision disturbances, with for example the appearance of a “black veil” in front of the eyes;
• hearing problems, with for example the occurrence of ringing in the ears;
• sweating and hot flashes ;
• of the nausea.

In some cases, the feeling of being unwell may be accompanied by more serious symptoms such as chest pain, seizures or difficulty in breathing. An urgent medical consultation is then essential.

What is the risk of complications?

In the majority of cases, lipothymic discomfort is punctual and brief. They are generally not serious and leave no consequences.

However, some forms can be more serious. In some cases, fainting can be a transient stage before syncope with loss of consciousness. This can have repercussions on the body, the severity of which varies depending on the duration and frequency.

How to react in the event of lipothymic discomfort?

When the first signs of faintness occur, it is important to:

• sit or lie down the time for the feeling of discomfort to dissipate;
• isolate yourself in a calm environment, to the extent possible.

These preventive measures limit the risk of progression to syncope with loss of consciousness.

What to do to treat lipothymic discomfort?

Once the preventive measures have been applied, the cause of the lipothymic discomfort must be identified and treated. The treatment of lipothymia can then be based on:

• a rapid intake of sugar in case of hypoglycaemic discomfort;
• hydration, especially in the event of extreme heat;
• rest, especially in case of emotional discomfort, to allow the body to recover;
• relaxation to relieve stress.

In which cases to worry?

If the lipothymic discomforts are generally punctual and brief, an urgent medical consultation is necessary when they persist, recur or are accompanied by other symptoms such as convulsions, chest pain, or difficulty in breathing.