FAINTING DIAGNOSIS

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Fainting is a common problem. And it can be scary. But is it serious?
In most cases it’s not.
The reasons for fainting range from swooning to the sight of a rock star to serious heart rhythm disturbances. Now Mayo Clinic researchers have shown a way to detect the serious cases, and avoid spending unnecessary time and money on those patients who are truly fine.

It’s often the scenario that those who faint end up being transported emergently to the hospital, and get admitted to the E.R. and then to the cardiac care unit.
But is all this necessary when in most cases, the reason for fainting--known medically as syncope-- is no big deal.
Dr. Win Shen, the study researcher at the Mayo Clinic, says, “In the late 90’s over a million patients were admitted to the hospital for an evaluation of syncope. While the total cost exceeded three billion dollars in the states.”
Now researchers at the mayo clinic have developed a syncope unit in the emergency room, where simple tests can evaluate the reasons for fainting and determine whether the patient has a serious condition that caused the fainting.
To determine the reasons for fainting patients undergo continuous heart rhythm and blood pressure monitoring, and get tests such as echocardiography.
The researchers found those with negative tests can safely be discharged from the hospital. Admission rates were reduced by more than fifty percent because of the aggressive diagnosis occurring in the unit compared to standard E.R. care of these patients.
“The cause of syncope that could be determined in 67 percent of the patients randomized to the syncope unit, while only in ten percent in patient who underwent routine care,” says Dr. Shen.
Still, occasionally the reason for fainting can be serious, and there are signs to watch out for that suggest that a person should be taken to the E.R. immediately.
“If the syncope is preceded by chest pains, palpitations, or if it comes on with no warning at all, it’s likely to be serious. Also if the syncope occurred in older persons with a prior history of cardiovascular diseases these are patients with a higher risk of cardiac cause of syncope,” states Dr. Shen.
Most of the non-serious types of fainting, or syncope, occur when it’s hot or when a person hasn’t eaten for hours, and often there’s alcohol involved.
“Those are the patients who usually do not need any extensive evaluation,” says Dr. Shen.
Knowing the different reasons for fainting can help a person decide whether they even need to go to the E.R. in the first place. Of course, it’s always advisable to speak to your doctor for advice.

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