Syncope, commonly known as fainting, is a sudden loss of consciousness often occurring with little warning, requiring medical attention in specific situations. Diagnosis involves assessing symptoms and may include tests such as ECG and echocardiograms, with syncope classified into four primary categories. Treatment options range from lifestyle changes, like increasing fluid intake and exercise, to medications or implants for severe cases.

1. WHAT IS SYNCOPE
W W W . O K H E A R T . C O M

2. Syncope is a sudden,
complete loss of
consciousness
commonly described as
fainting or passing out.

3. In a typical syncope
episode, a person will be
standing and simply
pass out with little to
no warning.

4. And when they wake up,
they will be unconscious
for just a few minutes
and may appear flushed
or feel warm.

5. There are some situations where syncope
requires immediate medical attention,
including:
* Syncope during exercising or while laying
down
* Palpitations or racing heart beat just
before or during syncope
* Syncope combined with family history of
sudden cardiac death or a prior diagnosis of
abnormal heart rhythm or EKG
* Syncope combined with resting heart rate
below 50

6. Questions that could help the physician
diagnose if a person has experienced
syncope or another health concern:
* Did they completely pass out?
* Was the episode fast and short?
* Have they lost postural tone (collapsed)?
* How many times it has happened?
* Was there any other symptoms occur
along with passing out?

7. Tests may include:
* EKG to check the heart rhythm
* Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
to rule out any structural issues with the
heart

8. There are four primary categories of
syncope:
* Reflex mediated syncope, which accounts
for about 58% of cases.
* Syncope from underlying cardiac disease
(23%).
* Neurologic or psychiatric syncope (1%).
* Unexplained syncope (18%).

9. Treatment options
(may vary on each patient's situation):
* Simply increasing water and sodium
intake will reduce the frequency of syncope.
* Daily aerobic exercise may help lessen the
frequency of syncope.
* Other patients may require medication or
even an implantable cardiac device, such as
a pacemaker, for cardiac-related syncope.

10. To learn more about procedures
to syncopal episodes,
contact the
Oklahoma Heart Hospital today.
O K L A H O M A
H E A R T H O S P I T A L