The anatomy of a fainting spell
Categories: Diet & Weight Loss
Do people still faint anymore? I don't think I've ever seen anyone faint in person, although I know it happens. Based on TV and movies it seems like people faint left and right, but have you ever wondered what exactly causes somebody to suddenly lose consciousness and hit the floor? Fainting is caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain, which causes loss of consciousness usually just for a few seconds, and people often feel dizzy or nauseous after they wake up. Things that can trigger fainting include any kind of straining or pushing, excessive coughing, medications, drugs, low blood sugar, pain, and of course the Hollywood favorite: emotional distress.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob 8-05-2007 @ 10:37AM
It's funny, but as children we used to hold our breath, spin in circles, and have another child squeeze our chest for an extended period with the GOAL of causing a faint. We thought it was much fun.
Skinny Sam
http://www.naturalweightlosscures.com
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Charles 8-05-2007 @ 2:17PM
I have seen people faint before. There were a couple weeks in a row at a church that met in a VERY warm gym during the summer (and when it's warm enough in Michigan, fans just don't do much), and each week there was someone who fainted.
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Phyllis 8-05-2007 @ 3:27PM
Fainting is horrible. While in the faint people sound like they are so far away and you want desperately to come back, but it's so difficult. When I was a child a fainted several times in church, usually while kneeling. I also fainted after eating a particularly rich meal in a French Restaurant in Las Vegas. I was drinking hot coffee at the end of the meal and started feeling lightheaded. Fortunately the friend I was with with a nurse. She tried to help me make it to the bathroom which was just past the bar section but I just passed out right in the middle of the bar. I didn't think I would come back out of it. I think people thought I was drunk since no other person even tried to help. I was very sick after that and, who knows, it could have been food poisoning. I was too naive to think of that in those days. It ruined the trip for me.
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