It is a condition in which a person has a reduced blood flow to the brain, causing him or her to feel faint, weak and eventually even to lose consciousness. On falling to the floor the person becomes horizontal and the blood flow to the brain is restored. Sometimes people, who feel they are about to faint feel giddy, sweat a lot and have a fast heartbeat. When a person faints they look pale, breathe rapidly and have a feeble pulse. After a few minutes consciousness usually returns.
Causes of fainting
• An emotional upset.
• Sickening for an acute infection.
• An overheated, ill-ventilated room.
• Prolonged standing, especially on an empty stomach.
• Severe pain.
• Pregnancy.
• Severe bleeding.
• Adolescence (notably in girls).
• A minor epileptic attack can be mistaken for a faint.
Prevention
The prevention of most of the above is fairly obvious and needs no elaboration. However, if you feel faint or likely to faint here are a few simple preventive hints.
• Always have breakfast if you know you are going to have to stand up for any length of time.
• Ensure that your environment does not become too hot and stuffy.
• As soon as you feel at all like fainting sit down, loosen your tie, belt or any other constricting clothing; get someone to open a window or to take you to an open window or outside the stuffy room. If you feel worse, lie down flat. Within a few minutes you should feel normal again. Look for the cause of the faint and take steps to prevent similar occurrences.
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