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For what reasons can you faint? Could fainting be a result of stress? Could fainting indicate serious illness? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
What could be the reasons for the fainting?
Good day. My name is Alicja, I am a high school teacher. Recently, for the first time in my life, I fainted in class. I don’t remember much of this event because it literally lasted fractions of a second. Later I went to the doctor and he referred me for a heart examination. However, I am wondering what, in your opinion, could have been caused by my fainting?
I hadn’t had anything serious before. I would also like to add that apart from walking home from work (about 2 km), I do not do any sports and smoke cigarettes from time to time. I don’t drink coffee, I eat it healthily, although from time to time I like to eat a large pizza with a double cheese. I am a bit afraid of being left alone at home because I am afraid that I may pass out again. Could fainting be caused by stress?
Recently, I had an unpleasant situation with one of the students whose parents reported me to the school management. I was very stressed by the whole event, then I had serious problems with sleep. I am in a confusion at the moment. I don’t know if the fainting was the result of this stressful situation or if I just have something? I am asking for an answer and possible tips on what to do next. Thank you for your response. Regards, Alicja.
The doctor explains the causes of fainting
Ladies and Gentlemen, at the outset, I would like to inform you that I am not able to say via the Internet why you fainted. Usually, in one-off situations, we do not see any diseases that are dangerous to health. We can divide syncope into reflex, cardiogenic and resulting from orthostatic hypotension. The most common, and generally mild, are reflex fainting, on the other hand cardiogenic fainting can be associated with serious complications.
Reflex syncope includes, but is not limited to vasovagal faintingwhich occur as a result of upright standing, which results in a slower heart rate and a drop in blood pressure, as well as situational syncope in which fainting occurs due to defecation, pain or cough. Strong stressful situations can also lead to fainting. In the case of cardiogenic syncope, the most common cause is cardiac arrhythmias and, less frequently, a structural heart defect.
As I mentioned earlier, if it was a one-off situation, I advise you to stay calm, especially since you have had a hard time recently. Of course, I recommend that you go to your GP. An ECG and basic laboratory tests, including morphology and ionogram, should be performed. If your family doctor suspects a more serious disease, he will definitely refer you to an appropriate specialist. Personally, I recommend using the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist if the stressful situations are protracted.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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