Fainting and Your Heart Health
Did you know that fainting can be related to some heart conditions? It’s important to be aware of how heart conditions can be correlated with fainting so you can do your part to care for your heart health. A fainting episode could be what helps you discover an unknown heart condition so it’s best to get checked out by your doctor if this occurs.
Fainting, or syncope, can occur when the brain doesn’t pump enough oxygen to the brain and the blood pressure drops too low. While there are many reasons why you might faint, some of them are due to heart conditions.
We’ll go over some of the heart conditions that can cause you to faint so you can get a better understanding of the connection and take appropriate action. But first, let’s look at what exactly is happening in the body when you faint.
What Can Cause You to Faint?
Fainting, also referred to as syncope, happens when your blood pressure plummets and your heart fails to pump adequate oxygen to your brain. Many things can lead to fainting, some of which are not serious.
Some of the reasons you may experience a fainting spell are related to:
- Emotional stress- this is usually the type of fainting you see on television when a person faints after seeing something shocking or receiving terrible news
- Intense pain- some people faint from the shock of a serious injury
- Extreme physical exertion- you may notice that intense physical exertion causes you to feel a bit lightheaded, especially when outside in the heat
- Heart conditions- there are various heart conditions to can cause fainting
- Hereditary recurrent syncope- some people have a family history of recurrent fainting episodes
As you can see, there are some situations where you could end up fainting or just feeling faint but are due to your immediate circumstances and not necessarily a health condition.
Which Heart Conditions Can Lead to Fainting?
There are fainting situations that are directly heart-related, referred to as cardiac syncope. These are caused by existing heart conditions and need to be monitored by a doctor for further complications.
Some of the heart conditions that can cause fainting are:
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Bradycardia involves a sluggish heart rate, typically lower than 60 beats per minute. For some with this condition, the heart’s ability to pump blood to the rest of the body may be impaired. You can experience fainting, lightheadedness, and dizziness.
Tachycardia involves the opposite issue of bradycardia. This condition causes an accelerated heart rate of over 100 beats per minute and affects the heart’s capacity for pumping out blood to your body. Fainting, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath can occur.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart rate is irregular which causes a strain on the heart so it can’t pump blood efficiently. Fainting, lightheadedness, and dizziness can be caused by this condition.
Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart is weakened from a previous heart attack or coronary artery disease. In its weakened state, it can not efficiently pump blood to the rest of the body. IC can cause fainting spells, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath.
If you already have one of these heart conditions, it helps to be aware of the possibility of fainting so you won’t panic if it happens and you can take measures to decrease the occurrence of fainting. If you faint but haven’t been diagnosed with a heart condition, this is a sign for you to make an appointment with your doctor for an exam. The fainting may not be related to an existing heart condition, but it’s best to find out for sure so you can get proper treatment.
What Can Put You at a Higher Risk for Fainting (Cardiac Syncope)?
When you have a heart condition, this can put you at a higher risk for fainting, although there are some other factors that can increase your risk.
Some of the other risk factors for fainting (cardiac syncope) include:
- Age- those over age 60 have a higher risk of experiencing cardiac syncope
- Gender- men are more prone to heart-related fainting
- Faintness during physical exertion- if you get lightheaded or dizzy during physical exertion, you are at a higher risk for cardiac syncope
- Genetics- anyone with a family history of fainting is at a higher risk
Since you can’t do anything to change the above risk factors, it’s important to know what to do if you start to feel faint. You could prevent a full out fainting spell if you notice the signs early on and take appropriate actions.
What Should You Do if You Start to Feel Faint?
Be aware of the signs of a potential fainting episode so you handle it appropriately and possibly prevent it from fully panning out.
Some signs of a possible fainting spell include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweaty palms
- Blurry vision
If you experience signs that you may be about to faint, the most important thing to do is immediately sit or lie down. This can prevent you from being injured if you do pass out. Sip water and take slow, deep breaths until the feeling passes. If you believe the episode may be related to a health condition, contact your doctor.
How to Help Prevent a Fainting Episode
If you do have a heart condition or any condition that increases the risk of fainting, there are some things you can do to decrease the frequency of fainting episodes.
Some preventative self-care actions you can implement to prevent a fainting spell are:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat at regular intervals
- Avoid physical exertion in hot weather
- Decrease stress and anxiety
Stay hydrated to help prevent a fainting episode. Dehydration can leave feeling weak and confused, raising the risk of a fainting spell. Sip water throughout the day even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Eat at regular intervals because a lack of nourishment could spark a fainting episode. Try not to skip meals. Eat a snack if you’re not able to sit down to a full meal.
Avoid physical exertion in hot weather to lower your risk of fainting. If you must be outside in the heat, try to stay in the shade as much as possible and sip plenty of water.
Decrease stress and anxiety since these can both ramp up your risk of fainting. Try to practice some form of stress relief each day such as yoga, stretching, breathing exercises, or going for a walk.
Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor, especially for a heart condition. If you experience faintness or dizziness from your medication, speak to your doctor about other options.
Summary
Now you know how fainting can be related to your heart health. You also know the signals your body may be sending out to tell you that it needs some additional support for your cardiovascular health. You’ve seen how you can decrease your risk of fainting by implementing several lifestyle changes.
While a healthy diet and lifestyle are extremely helpful for a strong cardiovascular system, it’s important to seek out professional care if the problem persists. If you’re experiencing symptoms of poor cardiovascular health, like fainting, that don’t respond to diet and lifestyle changes, contact us today to book an appointment.
