Sudden loss of consciousness is frequently a sign of poor health or an underlying medical issue. Few individuals are aware that persistent fainting symptoms might be a sign of cardiac problems.
Stress, dietary habits, changes in sleep cycle or lifestyle choices, and other reasons, according to Dr JK Padhi, cardiology and interventional cardiologist, AMRI Bhubaneswar, are typically blamed for fainting. However, this frequent ailment might also signal the beginnings of cardiac failure.
“It has the potential to cause deadly injuries as well as warning signals of cardiac problems including arrhythmia or coronary heart disease.” What’s worse, it affects individuals of all ages – 3% of males and 3.5 percent of women experience it at some time in their lives, and 6% of persons over 75,” the doctor explains.
In medical jargon, fainting is referred to as’syncope.’ It occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the brain. A person becomes unconscious and limps, yet they can regain consciousness and recover. It might be an indication of arrhythmia, which is characterised by irregular heartbeats and can lead to catastrophic outcomes such as strokes or sudden cardiac arrest if untreated, according to Dr. Padhi.
The following are some of the reasons why fainting might be fatal:
- Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia creates an abnormal blood flow to other body areas, which can induce fainting. While this illness is often mild, if it is not diagnosed early enough, it can have life-threatening effects.
- Aortic dissection: Aortic dissection is a rare disorder in which the major artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body tears. Fainting is one of the early symptoms.
- Aortic valve stenosis: A narrowing of the valve between the heart and the aorta, which can occur at birth or later in life.
- Serious injuries: When you have a fainting spell, you run the risk of suffering deadly injuries from falling. These injuries can be dangerous, particularly if they involve the brain or bones.
