Why do People Faint?
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness that is spontaneously recovered after only a brief period of time. People faint because of a lack of blood flow and decreased oxygen to the brain. The cause of fainting can be related to a number of conditions or situations, some involving the heart, many not. The medical term for fainting is syncope (SIN-ko-pee). People most often faint as the result of an abnormal circulatory reflex. Some people faint at the sight of blood, in a crowded room, or even from excessive coughing. This is referred to as situational fainting and might affect a person repeatedly, but only in a very specific situation. People may also faint when standing up after lying down. Referred to as postural fainting, this results from a decreased flow of blood to the brain, usually as the result of a drop in blood pressure. Postural fainting can occur after significant blood loss, dehydration, or a change in cardiovascular medication, or as a side effect to other medicatio
Here are some of the reasons why teens faint: • Physical triggers. Getting too hot or being in a crowded, poorly ventilated setting are common causes of fainting in teens. People can also faint after exercising too much or working out in excessive heat and not drinking enough fluids (so the body becomes dehydrated). Fainting can also be triggered by other causes of dehydration, as well as hunger or exhaustion. Sometimes just standing for a very long time or getting up too quickly after sitting or lying down can lead someone to faint. • Emotional stress. Emotions like fright, pain, anxiety, or shock can affect the body’s nervous system, causing blood pressure to drop. This is the reason why people faint when something frightens or horrifies them, like the sight of blood. • Hyperventilation. A person who is hyperventilating is taking fast breaths, which causes carbon dioxide (CO2) to decrease in the blood. This can make a person faint. People who are extremely stressed out, in shock, or
