If you feel faint:

• Lie or sit down.
• If you sit down, place your head between your knees.
• Tell your doctor about the episode.

If someone else faints:

• Position the person on his or her back. If the person is breathing, raise the person’s leg above the heart level to restore blood to the brain.
• Loosen the belt and collar.
• Check the person’s airway to be sure it’s clear, and watch for vomiting.
• Check for signs of breathing, coughing, or movement.
• When the person regains consciousness, don’t let him or her get up too quickly.
• If the person doesn’t regain consciousness within one minute, call 911.

There are many reasons why people faint. Some causes include:

• Changes in blood pressure
• Changes in heart rate
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Anemia (an inadequate quantity of healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues)
• Improper blood circulation
• Metabolic and lung disorders
• Standing too fast
Exhaustion
• Emotional stress
• Pain
• Overheating
• Illness
• Some medications

Sometimes, fainting causes are harmless. Other times, they can be life threatening. Whether you have a single episode of fainting or repeat spells, seek the advice of your doctor.

Fainting can happen suddenly or it may be preceded by other symptoms, called premonitory symptoms. These symptoms may include:

• Light headedness
• Falling for no reason
• Dizziness
• Sweaty palms
• Nausea
• Fading vision

Sometimes, people are able to avoid fainting spells by recognizing the premonitory symptoms and then lying down or elevating their legs.

As much as 50% of the U.S. population may experience a fainting event during a lifetime.1 Fainting accounts for 1-3% of emergency department visits and 6% of hospital admissions in the U.S. each year.¹

Fainting affects people of all ages, both with and without other medical conditions.