Table of contents:
- Frequent fainting? Beware of this condition!
- 1. Blood pressure drops suddenly
- 2. Hyperventilation
- 3. Heart problems
- 4. Dehydration
- 5. Blood sugar levels are too low
Fainting is not a disease but a condition that can sometimes be triggered by certain health problems. This condition is usually caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain, so you suddenly lose consciousness. Although not always dangerous, you should be suspicious if this happens frequently. The reason is, there are various mild to serious conditions that can cause a person to faint frequently.
Frequent fainting? Beware of this condition!
Did you know that fainting is the body's response to self-defense? So, when the brain doesn't get enough oxygen and food, the brain will automatically "shut down" parts of the body that are not very vital, so that other more important organs can still work.
Even so, if you pass out frequently, it means that something is wrong with your body. Then, what are the conditions that can cause you to faint?
1. Blood pressure drops suddenly
People who have blood pressure that is too low or hypotensive are at risk for fainting. The reason is, this condition makes the blood pressure to the artery walls weaken and makes you usually feel tired or dizzy.
Usually, hypotension is caused due to circulatory disorders, infections of the bloodstream, endocrine disorders such as diabetes and thyroid disease. This can happen when you are taking drugs that cause your blood pressure to drop, such as beta blockers.
Not only that, some people also have low blood pressure due to various things that have no known cause but are often asymptomatic. This condition is called chronic asymptomatic hypotension which is generally harmless.
2. Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation is when you are breathing very quickly. In fact, healthy breathing occurs when oxygen and carbon dioxide enter and leave in a balanced manner. When you hyperventilate, this balance will be disturbed. You will be removing too much carbon dioxide and narrowing the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
This decreased blood supply to the brain eventually makes your head feel light, tingling, until you lose consciousness. In some people, hyperventilation occurs as a panic response to fear, stress, or a phobia.
While in some other conditions this condition occurs as a response to the body to emotional states such as depression, anxiety, and anger. Other causes of hyperventilation that make you faint include the use of stimulants, severe pain, lung infections, and diabetic ketoacidosis.
3. Heart problems
Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat), stenosis (blockage of the heart valves), and hypertension (high blood pressure) are various heart problems that can be the reason why you often pass out.
Various problems with the heart can reduce blood supply and oxygen to the brain. As a result, you will lose consciousness. This cause of fainting requires special care and needs to be monitored continuously.
4. Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when more body fluids are lost than you drink. When too much water is lost, organs, cells and tissues fail to function properly.
In addition, blood pressure will decrease and become unstable. So that the body produces less blood and oxygen to be distributed to the brain. As a result, you can suddenly lose consciousness.
Athletes, workers who are exposed to excessive amounts of heat, people with chronic illnesses, and people who live in high altitudes are at higher risk of developing dehydration.
5. Blood sugar levels are too low
A blood sugar level that is too low in the body or in medical terms is called hypoglycemia usually goes unnoticed. This condition, if left untreated, can make you faint, have seizures, and even go into a coma. This is because blood sugar levels are too low, so that the body does not get the energy to perform various organ functions.
This condition usually occurs in people who use insulin or in diabetes patients but do not get enough of it. As a result, sugar levels can drop dramatically to below 70 mg / dL.