What your body is actually doing when you pass out

Passing out, or fainting, can be scary whether you're experiencing it yourself or are witnessing the event in someone else. While the exact symptoms can vary, dizziness, loss of muscle control, and visual "blackouts" are all common when passing out. Despite its alarming nature, there's a reasonable explanation for fainting, and not all cases are necessarily linked to a dangerous health condition. First, it's important to understand that fainting is actually linked to a sudden drop in blood pressure and subsequent blood flow to the brain, and there are different types of passing out that can be accompanied by additional symptoms.

Medically known as syncope, fainting technically causes you to experience a brief loss of consciousness that you quickly wake up from. Most people pass out for a few minutes at a time, and then they gradually feel like themselves again as normal blood flow is restored to the brain. The sudden loss of blood flowing to your brain that causes you to pass out can actually be attributed to numerous possible triggers. Yet the majority of syncope experiences are not serious, and are simply related to short-term drops in blood pressure that resolve on their own without medical intervention. However, it's also possible for some cases of passing out to be related to underlying health conditions that do warrant medical attention.

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The severity of passing out depends on the underlying cause

There are three main types of syncope to consider: vasovagal (reflex), orthostatic, and cardiac. Reflex syncope is the most common type, especially in children and young adults. It is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure related to your nervous system's reaction to certain physical or mental triggers. Examples of these triggers include fear, seeing blood or needles, pain, dehydration in your cells, bouts of laughter or coughing, long periods of standing, exposure to heat, or significant emotional distress. Reflex syncope is not serious, and the effects are temporary.

Orthostatic syncope is another common cause of passing out related to standing up. Whenever you stand up, your blood pressure temporarily drops due to a redistribution of blood to the lower half of your body and a reduction in the upper portion. While many people can experience this normal phenomenon without an issue, it can cause lightheadedness and fainting in others. Such events can happen within 3 minutes of standing. Certain medications or diseases may even increase the risk of passing out with orthostatic syncope. If you have a history of orthostatic syncope, standing up more gradually may help reduce its occurrence.

Cardiac syncope is a more serious underlying cause of fainting that's attributed to blood flow obstruction, heart damage, or arrhythmias (not to be confused with agonal rhythms). While the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that only about 1 in 10 cases of syncope are cardiac-related, this is still a serious sign that warrants prompt medical attention. Additional signs include problems with heart rate regulation, fainting during physical activity, and chest pain.

What to do if you or someone else passes out unexpectedly

Some people may be able to tell they are about to faint due to sudden dizziness and vision impairment. Other common warning signs include queasiness, vomiting, sudden coldness, or clammy skin. In such cases, it's important to try to sit down immediately to keep yourself safe. It's also possible to pass out more suddenly though, which can cause you to fall without warning. If you witness someone fainting and suddenly falling, ensure they are in a safe position and that they are still able to breathe while passed out. Medline Plus also recommends that a person who has fainted should lie down to recover for at least 10 to 15 minutes before attempting to stand back up.

While fainting episodes are usually only temporary events, it's important to not just shrug off the experience. If you experience fainting, it's important to report the event to a medical professional. This is especially the case if the underlying cause isn't clear, and if it's more than a one-time occurrence. It's also worth being aware that older adults are more susceptible to fainting than other age groups.

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