What Is Fainting?

Fainting, also called syncope (pronounced SIN-ko-pee), is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness and posture caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.

Understanding Fainting -- the Basics Understand the basics of fainting from the experts at WebMD. 77 /delivery/9a/42/9a42697a-d8cf-4fb5-8c14-1825c3b6990b/wbz-fainting-the-basics_,750k,1000k,400k,.mp4 8/9/2017 11:59:00 AM 1000 750 wbz-fainting-the-basics /webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/video/wibbitz/wbz-fainting-the-basics.jpg 091e9c5e8178b896

Many different conditions can cause fainting. These include heart problems such as irregular heart beats, seizures, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), anemia (a deficiency in healthy oxygen carrying cells), and problems with how the nervous system (the body's system of nerves) regulates blood pressure. Some types of fainting seem to run in families.

While fainting may indicate a particular medical condition, sometimes it may occur in an otherwise healthy individual. Fainting is a particular problem for the elderly who may suffer serious injuries from falls when they faint. Most episodes are very brief. In most cases, the individual who has fainted regains complete consciousness within just a few minutes.

Fainting is a common problem, accounting for 3% of emergency room visits and 6% of hospital admissions. It can happen in otherwise healthy people. A person may feel faint and lightheaded (presyncope) or lose consciousness (syncope).