What Is Syncope
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Syncope, commonly known as fainting, is a sudden loss of consciousness often occurring with little warning, requiring medical attention in specific situations. Diagnosis involves assessing symptoms and may include tests such as ECG and echocardiograms, with syncope classified into four primary categories. Treatment options range from lifestyle changes, like increasing fluid intake and exercise, to medications or implants for severe cases.
What Is Syncope
- 1. WHAT IS SYNCOPE W W W . O K H E A R T . C O M
- 2. Syncope is a sudden, complete loss of consciousness commonly described as fainting or passing out.
- 3. In a typical syncope episode, a person will be standing and simply pass out with little to no warning.
- 4. And when they wake up, they will be unconscious for just a few minutes and may appear flushed or feel warm.
- 5. There are some situations where syncope requires immediate medical attention, including: * Syncope during exercising or while laying down * Palpitations or racing heart beat just before or during syncope * Syncope combined with family history of sudden cardiac death or a prior diagnosis of abnormal heart rhythm or EKG * Syncope combined with resting heart rate below 50
- 6. Questions that could help the physician diagnose if a person has experienced syncope or another health concern: * Did they completely pass out? * Was the episode fast and short? * Have they lost postural tone (collapsed)? * How many times it has happened? * Was there any other symptoms occur along with passing out?
- 7. Tests may include: * EKG to check the heart rhythm * Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to rule out any structural issues with the heart
- 8. There are four primary categories of syncope: * Reflex mediated syncope, which accounts for about 58% of cases. * Syncope from underlying cardiac disease (23%). * Neurologic or psychiatric syncope (1%). * Unexplained syncope (18%).
- 9. Treatment options (may vary on each patient's situation): * Simply increasing water and sodium intake will reduce the frequency of syncope. * Daily aerobic exercise may help lessen the frequency of syncope. * Other patients may require medication or even an implantable cardiac device, such as a pacemaker, for cardiac-related syncope.
- 10. To learn more about procedures to syncopal episodes, contact the Oklahoma Heart Hospital today. O K L A H O M A H E A R T H O S P I T A L