Published on February 11, 2026
Fainting, medically known as syncope, can be a frightening experience whether it happens to you or someone else. It occurs due to a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain. If you see someone faint, the goal should be to restore blood flow to the brain. Lay the person flat and raise the legs above the level of the heart. Loosen any tight clothes. The person should recover consciousness in a minute. If not or if a serious event is suspected, emergency help must be sought.
Once the person is conscious and comfortable, give the person half a liter of cold water to drink. This increases blood pressure and helps the person recover.
Strategies to Prevent Fainting
Simple physical and lifestyle adjustments can stop you from fainting.
If you feel the “warning signs”—such as dizziness, nausea, or tunnel vision—you can use actions to manually push blood back to your brain. These include:
- Crossing legs and squeezing thigh and buttock muscles while standing
- Clenching fists and tensing arm muscles
- Squatting or lying down and raising legs
Fainting could occur if the blood pressure does not adjust quickly while standing from a sitting or lying down position. This often happens in the elderly. To prevent this, never jump straight out of bed. First, sit up and dangle your feet at the edge of your bed for a minute. Next, stand while holding onto something. Finally, wait 30 seconds before you start walking. Review your medications with the physician to check if they impact blood pressure and contribute to fainting. Avoid tight collars to prevent reflex drops in blood pressure.
Adequate water and salt intake are necessary to maintain blood pressure and prevent dehydration. Since heavy meals draw blood to the digestive system, opt for smaller meals, especially if you are an older adult.
Reference:
David G. Benditt, Artur Fedorowski, Richard Sutton, and J. Gert van Dijk. Pathophysiology of syncope: current concepts and their development. Physiological Reviews 2025 105:1, 209-266
Goldberg ZD et al. ACC/AHA/HRS Versus ESC Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Syncope: JACC Guideline Comparison. JACC Volume 74, Number 19. https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.012
Disclaimer: The information provided in this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional, or the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider for any medical condition, procedure, or treatment. AI assistance has been used to generate the article.
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