What is syncope? What causes it? How is it diagnosed and treated? Read this article for informative facts.
Syncope is basically just a fancy term for fainting. While this seems like a minor condition that affects all people at some time, imagine if you were faced with this in your daily life. Being prone to black outs at any moment can interfere with your life in many ways. What if you are driving a car, on the job, taking a shower? You can seriously injure yourself. Syncope most often does not exist on its own, usually it is the result or symptom of a more serious illness.
Dizziness may occur in any position but you will most often experience it while standing or walking. Often dizziness is relieved by sitting or lying down.
There are dozens of causes of dizziness. Psychiatric illness or emotional stress are major factors. Inner ear diseases caused by injury, infection, allergy and tumors are another main cause.
More severe cases are caused by cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and other diseases such as hypoglycemia, migraines, stroke and seizures.
If you are having syncopal episodes, you should refrain from activities that will cause attacks such as rapid changes in position and use extreme caution while driving, operating machinery and climbing stairs or ladders. you see a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause of your fainting and dizzy spells.
Most likely your doctor will perform a seious of tests such as EKG's, blood pressure, neurological, electrocariograms, echocardiograms, exercise testing and Holter testing.
By finding the cause of your dizziness, it can be treated. You may be asked to refrain from caffeine and cigarrettes or to take medication regularly but most syncope can be treated.
