What causes syncope?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Syncope is the temporary loss of consciousness and posture (fainting), usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. This can happen to otherwise healthy people. Syncope can be caused by low blood pressure (hypotension), which means that the heart isn't pumping a normal supply of oxygen to the brain.
While syncope alone is not life threatening, it may sometimes be a symptom of a more serious condition that could be life threatening and should be treated promptly. Syncope may occur due to an irregular cardiac rate or rhythm, metabolic abnormalities or anemia.
Changes in the amount of blood being distributed or any type of interruption in blood circulation can cause syncope. Syncope may occur due to an irregular cardiac rate or rhythm, metabolic abnormalities or anemia.
Other causes of syncope, particularly among children, include, but are not limited to:
- Head injury
- Epilepsy
- Stroke
- Inner ear problems
- Dehydration
- Low blood sugar
- Breath-holding episodes
In about one-third of cases, the cause of syncope is unknown.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulSyncope is the temporary loss of consciousness and posture (fainting), usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. This can happen to otherwise healthy people. Syncope can be caused by low blood pressure (hypotension), which means that... More -
Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:Syncope, or fainting, may be caused by various medical problems. Syncope may occur rarely to frequently, depending on the cause. Some causes of syncope may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- vasovagal syndrome -- a sudden drop in blood pressure with or without a decrease in heart rate that is caused by a dysfunction of the nerves controlling the heart and blood vessels
- arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) -- a heart rate that is too slow, too fast, or too irregular to maintain adequate blood flow to the body
- valve disease -- malfunction of one or more of the heart valves may cause an obstruction of the blood flow within the heart
- heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) -- damage to the heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulSyncope, or fainting, may be caused by various medical problems. Syncope may occur rarely to frequently, depending on the cause. Some causes of syncope may include, but are not limited to, the following: vasovagal syndrome -- a sudden drop... More
