How long does fainting usually last

Fan the victim to increase evaporation. Give as much cold water or sports drink e. An adult or teen with heat exhaustion should drink cups ml of liquids right away to replace what was lost. Then the adult or teen should drink approximately 1 cup ml every 15 minutes for the next hours.

Child Sick? Call Now Still unconscious after 1 minute has passed Trouble waking up or acting confused Very weak can't stand Chest pain Trouble breathing Lips or face are blue Heart beat is not normal or is very fast Heart beat is very slow less than 60 beats per minute Any bleeding vomiting blood, blood in stool, or vaginal bleeding Black stools Have had heart problems or heart failure You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now You feel weak or very sick You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent.

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Fainted and now feel fine you do not need to call if you know it was a "simple faint" You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Simple faint has happened more than 2 times You have other questions or concerns.

Self Care at Home Simple faint from stress, pain, standing for too long, or standing up too quickly and now feel fine. Feeling lightheaded and weak and having the sensation of spinning are warning signs of fainting.

If you notice any of these signs, sit and put your head between your knees to help get blood to your brain. When someone near you faints, you can encourage blood flow to their head by raising their feet above the level of their heart. Loosen tight collars, belts, and other restrictive clothing. Keep the person lying down or sitting for at least 10 to 15 minutes. A cool, quiet place is best. A cool drink of water may also help.

Learn more about first aid tips for unconsciousness. Follow the instructions of the operator or emergency dispatcher. You may need to perform rescue breathing or CPR while awaiting help. If you have no prior history of fainting and have fainted multiple times, your doctor will want to determine if an underlying medical condition is the cause.

Even people who only pass out once should at least get an electrocardiogram ECG or EKG , which records the electrical activity of your heart. Tell your doctor about the specific circumstances of your fainting spell, such as what you were doing and how you felt immediately before fainting.

Be prepared to give your doctor a complete medical history, including information about previously diagnosed conditions and any prescription and over-the-counter OTC medications you take. Depending on the findings from a physical examination , your doctor may order additional tests. Diagnosis typically starts with EKG. Other tests that may be used to find out why you passed out include:. In some instances, you may receive a head CT scan. This imaging study checks for bleeding in the brain.

Before you run off to see the movie "Jigsaw" or visit a Halloween haunted house, take note: Fainting can be serious business. New guidelines are released explaining why people faint and what medical tests they should get after a fainting episode. Blackouts can happen when you drink alcohol to excess.

Learn what causes the blackout, how blacking out can affect you in the long term, and more. Emotional stress. Emotions like fright, pain, anxiety , or shock can cause blood pressure to drop. This is the reason why people faint when something frightens or horrifies them, like the sight of blood. A person who is hyperventilating is taking fast breaths. Carbon dioxide CO2 levels in the blood falls, causing blood vessels to narrow. Blood flow to the brain decreases, making a person faint. Medical conditions.

Conditions such as heart problems, anemia , low blood sugar , or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome POTS can cause fainting.

During pregnancy, the body undergoes a lot of changes, including changes in the circulatory system. These may cause a woman to faint. And as the uterus grows, it can press on and partially block blood flow through large blood vessels, which can decrease blood supply to the brain. If you've only fainted once, it was brief, and the reasons why are obvious like being in a hot, crowded setting , then there's usually no need to worry about it. But if you have a medical condition or are taking prescription medicines, it's a good idea to call your doctor.

If you're with someone who has fainted, try to help the person lies down. Don't move someone who might be injured from falling that can make things worse. Instead, loosen any tight clothing — such as belts, collars, or ties. Propping the person's feet and lower legs up on a backpack or jacket also can help blood flow to the brain.