Almost Passing Out

About the Symptom

It's the sensation of feeling faint without actually losing consciousness.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Feeling faint

Possible Causes

Generally, Almost passing out can be related to:

• Vasovagal Syncope

  Neurally mediated syncope, also known as vasovagal syncope, is a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that results in fainting. Common triggers include strain, stress, long periods of standing, exposure to heat, or emotionally upsetting situations (such as sight of blood).

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thick. It is often caused by gene mutations in the heart muscle. The thickened heart muscle can become stiff, reducing the heart's ability to pump blood adequately.

• Depression

  Depression is a mental illness that leads to low mood, reduced energy levels, and changes in sleep. This affects everyday activities like attending school and work. As the condition worsens, patients might have suicidal thoughts. Although stress and past trauma can cause depression, it can take time to identify and address causes, and genetic factors may also be at play.

• Adjustment Disorder
• Multiple Myeloma (MM)
• Benign Arrhythmias (Palpitations)
• Meniere's Disease
• Migraine

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Almost passing out may be related to these serious diseases:

• Epilepsy

  Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures of varying durations and severities. It can affect people of any age and may be caused by genetic disorders or brain injuries, such as stroke.

• Supraventricular Tachycardia

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you felt like fainting without actually losing consciousness?
• Have you ever felt faint (close to passing out) in a hot environment?
• Have you ever felt faint during an injection?
• Have you ever felt faint (close to passing out) after exercise?
• Have you ever felt faint (close to passing out) when sitting or standing for a long time?

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