Stcome: it happens to one in two people in their life. In practice, half of Italy ended up lying on the ground without wanting to. Fainting, in fact, is a very common symptom, but it shouldn’t be ignored for this reason. Especially if it happens more than once in a week. AND it is said that whoever faints is sick. On the contrary. It can happen to everyone, from children to the elderly, to switch to hyper-trained sportsmen or fit adults who, however…
The causes are different
Anyone can faint. However, the causes that lead to falling to the ground without realizing it are many. Definitely this season one of the main culprits is the heatwhich does lower blood pressure. Consequently, especially those who already suffer from low blood pressure could have a further drop, such as not to allow the body to compensate and it is a moment to lose balance. «In most cases, fainting does not cause any consequences and recovery is fast. However, may be a sign of more serious health problems, such as a heart disease, a neurological disorder or other pathologies perhaps not yet known to the person» explains Dr. Andrea Zanchè, general practitioner in Pescara. “That’s why it’s essential contact your doctor who, through a careful anamnesis, will reconstruct the circumstances of the incident and with the medical examination will be able to understand if and which tests it is useful to carry out to arrive at the diagnosis» concludes the expert, who is part of the Cardiovascular Area of the Italian Society of General Medicine (SIMG).
What to do when you’re about to pass out
Generally, fainting is preceded by some signals: the sense of malaise you feel is characterized by a feeling dizzyand sometimes accompanied by excessive sweating, nausea and blurred vision. Those who faint first often turn very pale: this is also an effect of the decreased blood supply to the head. If you feel these sensations, the first thing to do is to ask for help to lie down and try to lift your legs, but if it is not possible to do so, you can sit down, possibly even on the ground, perhaps leaning against a wall. «It will be necessary to remain in these positions until one feels better and, when it is time to get up, it must be done slowly. As soon as possible, it will also be necessary to go to the doctor for a more accurate check-up» advises Dr. Andrea Zanchè.
How to rescue someone who is about to faint…
Stay calm even if it’s a child who faints. The first thing to do is to keep calm, try to support the person and help him to lie down or sit down. It is important, however, do not try to get her to drink or even eat anything. Neither water nor alcohol to cheer her up. You need to wait a few moments to see if the person who feels bad manages not to faint on their own. Windows can also be opened to help her, ctry to wet them forehead, wrists, if possible also armpits and groin with cold water or ice. “Better undo any tight clothing (belt, tie, collar, or other) and remain next to the person until he has recovered» clarifies the doctor. You can also try to talk to her by asking her name, this to understand if she is conscious, but if she is already on the ground unconscious she should not be moved.
…and if she’s already passed out?
“Since fainting is a spontaneous reaction of our body to the decrease in oxygenation of the brain, due to a lowering of blood pressure, the flow of blood (and therefore of oxygen) can be promoted by doing raise the legs of the person lying on the ground» explains the expert. Whoever faints must therefore be placed in a supine position and his legs must be raised by 45°. You can also try to lift her chin, so that the head is well stretched out and the tongue does not go backwards, risking obstructing the airways. However, these maneuvers should only be done if you are sure that the person has not suffered any trauma with the fall, otherwise it is always better not to touch the person on the ground and wait for him to recover.
When to call for help
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness that occurs suddenly and transiently. That is, it must last a few moments, if not, the first thing to do is immediately call the 118 or ask if there is a doctor nearby. Yes you can also contact the Single European Emergency Number (Nue), i.e. the 112 which is active throughout the European Union and explain what is happening. If the person recovers in the meantime, you can always tell the operator that his intervention is no longer needed. It’s important check that the person is breathing, and this can be verified by observing his ribcage, which must lift on a regular basis. You can also try to feel the pulse by placing two fingers on the unconscious person’s wrist. But when in doubt, or if the person doesn’t respond to stimuli, such as light taps on the face, it’s better do not delay and call rescuethe.
Emotions make you swoon too
Sometimes more than fainting we worry because we can’t understand why we found ourselves on the ground without almost realizing it. Given that it is always up to the doctor to verify the true cause of the disorder, it may be useful to think about what happened before passing out. In fact, it can happen in particular to children, but also to the elderly or very sensitive people an emotion, not necessarily negative, generates such an effect on an emotional level which also affects blood circulation and pressure. The same thing happens with stress, especially if it is strong and prolonged it can lead to fainting. In particular if other causes are associated with it, such as a prolonged fasting, but also dehydration or a strong physical effort that you are not used to. It is for this reason that those who are not trained can pass out even a few minutes after finishing their run or fitness session.
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