Fainting associated with heart problems

Fainting can be a sign of a serious heart problem and should be evaluated by a doctor, according to new guidelines from three leading heart regulators:

• American College of Cardiology.
• American Heart Association.
• Heart rhythm association.

This is the first time such a statement has been made on this topic. Therefore, we decided to share these guidelines with you in this article.

Causes of fainting associated with heart disease

Fainting is quite common, affecting thousands of people every day. When a person faints, they usually lose consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure, which causes a lack of oxygen to the brain. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other causes of fainting, such as neurological or psychological.

Occasional fainting is not necessarily a cause for concern, but if it is frequent, the cause should be known and treated. According to statistics, about 14% of people suffer from frequent fainting. Also, the strong feelings a person experiences from attending a funeral or in response to seeing blood can lead to fainting, but it is not life-threatening, and this type of simple fainting is not identified in the new guidelines.

Heart-related causes are more likely to cause fainting in people over 60 than in younger people, according to the guidelines. Causes of fainting associated with heart disease include:

• Hidden and undiagnosed heart disease.
• Take a higher dose of antihypertensive medication.
• Dehydration at any age can contribute to low blood pressure and thus lead to fainting.
• arrhythmia.
• Heart valve problems.
• heart muscle injury

General indications after fainting

The new guidelines state that people who lose consciousness for any reason should undergo a physical examination and provide a doctor with a detailed medical history. A visit to the doctor may include an electrocardiogram, a simple and inexpensive test of the heart’s electrical activity that can help identify heart-related causes of fainting.

The guidelines state that athletes who lose consciousness should seek medical attention before resuming exercise. Because athletes faint because.

• Drought.
• exhaustion.
• Stress.

But the tests that will be done can help identify or rule out hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for example, which is an enlarged heart muscle that may require additional treatment.

Diagnose the cause of fainting

For most people who have syncope, further tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, are not necessary unless the person has already been diagnosed with heart disease or a new heart problem is suspected. According to the new guidelines, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on lab tests or imaging technology after a simple syncope unless there’s a serious problem that warrants it.

Finally, we must remember that most cases of fainting are not serious, but seeing a doctor to ask if there is anything to worry about is a good idea.

Source:

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-you-should-do-if-you-faint#What-causes-fainting?