How to Snap Out of a Fainting Spell
If you landed on this article, I’m guessing you’re a fainter like me. According to the Cleveland Clinic (2021), fainting is caused by a sudden loss of perfusion, or blood flow, to the brain. A fainting spell can last seconds or even minutes. Fainting is embarrassing, scary, and downright painful if you hit the ground. So what can you do about it?
Step 1: Let’s start with identifying the causes. The Cleveland Clinic (2021) lists a variety of causes, such as:
- Diuretics (Hello, PMS water pills)
- Blood pressure medications
- Dehydration
- Low blood sugar
- Overexercising
- Hyperventilating (Anxiety, anyone?)
- Stress response (The site of blood, emotional stress, physical pain)
- Straining (Think pooping and coughing)
- Constriction around the neck
Understanding your triggers will allow you to prevent an event from occuring in the first place. Make sure you’re drinking at least two liters of water a day, and eating enough for your body type. Wear loose fitting clothing, and avoid straining when possible.
But sometimes we can’t avoid our triggers, which leads us to step two.
Step 2: Recognize the symptoms of an impending fainting spell. According to the Cleveland Clinic (2020), symptoms that you’re about to faint include feeling:
- Cold and clammy
- Dizzy
- Light-headed
- Nauseous
- Anxious
- Weak
- Hot/flushed
If you’ve reached the point where you’re starting to feel these symptoms, you might think it’s too late. But alas, you are in charge of your body!
Step 3: Use these last resort tips and tricks to snap yourself out of an episode:
- Cross your legs
- Make a fist
- Flex your arms
- Slow your breathing. Breathe in for seven seconds and out for seven seconds
- Look away from whatever is making you feel faint
- Sit down if possible
- Grab a snack (remember the saying “cool and clammy, grab some candy”)
- Shift your weight from leg to leg, walking in place
- Tell someone!
I hope these tips help all you other super fainters out there. I promise you’re just as strong and capable as everyone else, even if your brain forgets to perfuse sometimes.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21699-fainting
