What happens during an episode of syncope?

Syncope (pronounced “sin ko pea”) is the medical term for fainting or passing out. It is caused by a temporary drop in the amount of blood that flows to the brain. Syncope can happen if you have a sudden drop in blood pressure, a drop in heart rate, or changes in the amount of blood in areas of your body.

What is the number one cause of syncopal episodes?

Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain. It’s also called fainting or “passing out.” It most often occurs when blood pressure is too low (hypotension) and the heart doesn’t pump enough oxygen to the brain.

What is the most common cause of near syncope?

Vasovagal syncope: The most common type of syncope. Occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood, extreme emotional distress, dehydration, anxiety, pain, hunger, etc.

Is syncope life threatening?

In most cases, syncope is not a sign of a life-threatening problem, although some people with syncope do have a serious underlying medical condition. In young adults and children, most cases of syncope are not associated with an underlying medical problem.

Is syncope a symptom of Covid 19?

Abstract. Background: Syncope is not a common manifestation of COVID-19, but it may occur in this context and it can be the presenting symptom in some cases. Different mechanisms may explain the pathophysiology behind COVID-19 related syncope.

Is syncope a seizure?

Many syncopal events include loss of consciousness as the only symptom. The diagnostic problem occurs when a patient with syncope also has myoclonic jerks or convulsions. These events are sometimes referred to as seizure-like syncope or convulsive syncope.

What is the proper treatment for syncope?

A drug called fludrocortisone acetate that’s normally used to treat low blood pressure may be helpful in preventing vasovagal syncope. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors also may be used. Therapies. Your doctor may recommend ways to decrease the pooling of blood in your legs.

How do I stop syncope episodes?

You may not always be able to avoid a vasovagal syncope episode. If you feel like you might faint, lie down and lift your legs. This allows gravity to keep blood flowing to your brain. If you can’t lie down, sit down and put your head between your knees until you feel better.

What are the signs of syncope?

Prior faintness, dizziness, or light-headedness occurs in 70% of patients experiencing true syncope. Other symptoms, such as vertigo, weakness, diaphoresis, epigastric discomfort, nausea, blurred or faded vision, pallor, or paresthesias, may also occur in the presyncopal period.

Does syncope require hospitalization?

Doctors use something called the San Francisco Syncope Rule to identify individuals who are at low risk for serious short-term problems after fainting and who don’t need to be hospitalized. Yet up to one-third of fainters at low risk are still hospitalized.

What are the 4 classifications of syncope?

Syncope is classified as neurally mediated (reflex), cardiac, orthostatic, or neurologic (Table 1).

How long do syncopal episodes last?

Syncope is more common than you might think. It can happen at any age, including childhood, though fainting happens more frequently to people as they get older. Syncopal episodes usually last only seconds or minutes. They may be accompanied by temporary feelings of confusion when you regain consciousness.

How can you tell the difference between seizure and syncope?

A blue face during the event was more common with a seizure, and a pale face was more common with syncope. Nausea or sweating before the event and orientation immediately after the event were used to exclude a seizure.

Is syncope a stroke?

Strokes or near strokes rarely can cause syncope. A particular subtype of stroke that affects the back of the brain may result in a sudden loss of stability and a fall, but consciousness is usually maintained.

Which arrhythmia causes syncope?

Paroxysmal supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias (occasional episodes of very rapid heartbeat above or in the ventricles, that start and stop suddenly) – Supraventricular arrhythmias with extreme fast heart rates, even though non-life threatening, can cause hemodynamic (blood flow) compromise with syncope such …

What’s cardiac syncope?

Cardiac syncope is a transient loss of consciousness due to a defect, either structural or electrical, which prevents the generation of enough cardiac output to perfuse the brain adequately.

Does syncope cause brain damage?

It has been reported that recurrent syncope episodes can lead to impairment of short-term memory. However, to date, the exact evidence of structural brain damage after syncope has not been reported.

Can you drive if you have syncope?

With certain exceptions, a minimum of 6 months of abstinence from driving has been recommended after a syncopal event, with resumption of driving permitted if no further episodes have occurred.

Can coronary artery disease cause syncope?

Syncope has been associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in specific patient populations, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and long QT syndrome, but data are lacking on the risk of SCA associated with syncope among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common …

Can myocardial infarction cause syncope?

Syncope can also result from an acute myocardial infarction (MI), acute aortic dissection, and pulmonary embolus. These conditions can have associated chest pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, dyspnea, epigastric pain, hypotension, alteration of mental status and can result in sudden death.