![]() This will help your veterinarian determine if the cause of fainting is cardiac in origin. Try to tell if the heart rate is very, very slow or extremely rapid. ![]() Put your hands over the heart and see if you can feel a heartbeat.Abnormal heart rhythms (such as sick sinus syndrome).That said, no matter how scared dogs or cats may get, they never faint from fright the way a human might (e.g., from panic attacks, hyperventilating, etc.).įainting in dogs is typically attributed to one of two main problems: neurologic (e.g., brain or spinal cord) or cardiac (e.g., heart arrhythmias, etc.). Fainting is uncommon in dogs and not always caused by a lack of blood flow there are other similar medical causes that result in fainting for both humans and animals. What should you do when you faint? “The bottom line is that if your doctor cannot come up with a reason why you fainted, or if it isn’t a benign reason, for example you were overdoing it in the heat or you got queasy because you were having blood drawn, then you need to see a cardiologist so cardiac causes can be ruled out,” Kramer says.Fainting, also called syncope, is a loss of consciousness that is typically due to a lack of normal blood flow to the brain. The valve problem most commonly responsible for fainting is aortic stenosis, which is the stiffening of the aortic valve, your heart’s main vessel. If there’s a valve problem, your body, including your brain, may not receive enough oxygenated blood, and fainting can occur, Dr. Your heart has four valves, all of which must open and shut properly to keep blood flowing smoothly going through your heart. Other less common heart-related causes of fainting include an enlarged, weakened heart, a tear in the aorta, or damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack.įainting may also be a sign of a valve disorder. The most common heart-related causes for fainting are problems with the heart’s electrical system, which can result in a too-slow heartbeat, known as bradycardia, or a too-fast heartbeat, known as tachycardia, according to Harvey Kramer, MD, a cardiologist at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and an assistant professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. Certain types of medications, includingĭiuretics, heart medications, psychiatric drugs, antihistamines, and narcotics, can also trigger a fainting episode, as can alcohol.Īlthough less common, certain serious heart problems can cause fainting. Dehydration can also cause fainting, particularly in the elderly. ![]() Straining to make a bowel movement or even urinating can sometimes cause fainting, too.įainting can also occur in people who have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, most common among diabetics because of fluctuating insulin levels. Some people faint because they’ve suddenly constricted their carotid artery (the artery in the neck) by turning their head abruptly or wearing a too-tight collar. In such cases, you can usually figure out the reason - maybe you were standing for a long time, fainted at the sight of blood, or due to some kind of emotional distress, trauma, or pain. When this nerve is overstimulated, a person may faint. One of the most common types of fainting is caused by a sort of crossed signal between the brain and the vagus nerve, a large nerve that runs from the brain to the stomach. That’s what causes the person to fall to the ground. One’s field of vision may even “black out.” This loss of consciousness triggers a loss in muscle control. Feeling faint can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. The Signs and Causes of Faintingįainting occurs when one’s blood pressure suddenly drops, resulting in a decrease of blood flow to the brain.Ī number of things can affect blood pressure, from abrupt changes in posture (like going from lying down to standing), dehydration, and certain medications. But sometimes fainting can signal a serious medical condition, even heart disease, so getting to the reason behind the incident is important. The person usually regains consciousness within a few minutes, recovers quickly, and returns to normal. An estimated one in three people will faint at some point in their lives. Fainting, also called passing out, can be frightening.
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