Why you may be at risk, and how you can protect yourself.

You might call it passing out, blacking out, fainting. Doctors call it syncope (SIN-kuh-pee), a sudden loss of consciousness that can leave fainting patients and their families scared and in the dark about the cause.

If it happens to you — or if you’ve ever felt light-headed or briefly disoriented, for example after taking a blood pressure medication — it’s important to understand why you faint and what to do if you’re prone to it. Heart patients in particular need to follow up with a physician. Fainting can be a warning flag signaling impending cardiovascular trouble, even sudden death. …

Subscribers:
View the Full Story

Non-subscribers:
Purchase Selection or begin your FREE 14-day trial subscription to heart-advisor.com