How to Fain Safely

Fainting is a terrifying experience. This condition usually occurs due to poor blood circulation to the brain causing you to lose consciousness and pass out. However, you can take some precautions to make sure you are safe from fainting. Pay attention to early signs, such as feeling dizzy, then sit or lie down right away. Get everyone’s help and take time to recover from the fainting spell. You should also talk to your doctor to determine a treatment plan. ^{[1] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

Table of Contents

Treatment when the first symptoms appear

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Notice the feeling of dizziness. You may feel mild or severe dizziness before fainting. This is a strong warning sign that the circulatory system is not working properly. As soon as you feel dizzy, stop what you are doing and try to lower yourself to the ground by sitting or lying down. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Note visual and auditory changes. Your senses will most likely be affected for a few minutes right before fainting. You may experience “tubular vision” or feel as if your vision has collapsed into a narrow tunnel. You may also see dark spots or blurred images. Ears begin to hear a hooting noise or what feels like a soft buzzing sound. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Other major symptoms include pale and wet face, numbness in the face and extremities, extreme nervousness, or sudden nausea or abdominal pain.

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Sit or lie down right away. When you have any symptoms that indicate you are about to faint, the first thing you need to do is to lower yourself down as quickly as possible. Many people are seriously injured not from fainting but from falling unconscious. It’s best to lie on your back or on your side, but if that’s not convenient, just sit down. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

When lying down, your head should be at the level of your heart. This pose will help restore blood circulation to the brain more easily. If you’re pregnant, you should sleep on your side to reduce the load on your heart (and sleep too).
If you are in a crowded place and can only sit down, do so. Ideally, you should put your head between your knees to let gravity bring blood to the brain. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Find your own space. If you’re in a crowd, it’s best to try to find a wall and lean against the wall slowly. If needed, you can slowly slide along the wall and sit down. This will help you avoid being trampled when you fall to the ground. Getting out of the crowd is also a way to lower your body temperature and make it easier to breathe.

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Try to fall against the wall. If it’s too late to actively lie down, you should also try to control the direction of your fall as best you can. When you start to lose consciousness, try to lean towards the wall if any wall is within your reach. That way, you can slide down without a free fall.

You can also try to bend your knees. This pose helps you to lower yourself and lower your height when you fall.

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Be very careful while on the stairs. If symptoms begin to appear while walking up the stairs, move from the inner railing to the outside, close to the wall and sit down on the stairs. If you are close to the landing in the middle of the stairs, you should try to get down quickly to get a place to lie down.

If you feel like you’re about to fall before you can sit down, you should try as hard as you can to grip the handrail. This can help you slide to the floor along the railing even when you’re unconscious. If not, you can lean on the outside railing (close to the wall) so you don’t fall suddenly, but just slide down.

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Have someone help. Call out for help. If you can’t scream out loud, raise your hand to wave, keep your mouth open as if saying the word “help”. Be careful when trying to approach someone for help as you could fall halfway.

If you see someone, you can say “Help, I’m going to faint!” or “Can you help me? I’m about to faint.” Don’t be afraid to ask strangers for assistance if they can keep you safe.
If you’re lucky someone comes to help, they’ll let you lie down on the floor if you haven’t done it yet. If you fall and get injured, they can press on the bleeding wound and call 911. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
A support person can also help you remove tight clothing that impedes blood flow to your head, such as a tie. ^{[7] X Trusted Source MedlinePlus Go to the source} They need to make sure your airways are clear. You will be turned to your side if vomiting begins. The helper can also check if you are breathing normally even if you are unconscious. If they see any worrying signs, they will quickly call 911 and wait for help.

Instant recovery after fainting

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Lie on the ground for a while. Don’t be in a hurry to get up as soon as you wake up. Your body and mind need time to recover. You should hold the position for at least 10-15 minutes. If you sit up too early, another fainting spell is at risk. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Elevate your legs, if possible. Simple episodes of syncope can often be managed by quickly elevating the patient’s legs and feet. While lying on the ground, look around to see if you can elevate your feet. If you can put your feet higher than your head, that’s fine, but just a little bit of elevation can help. As you lie down, see if you (or your helper) can roll the jacket under your feet. This will improve blood circulation to the head and help you recover faster.

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Take a deep breath. While waiting to get up, take a few deep, slow breaths. Inhale through your nose to fill your lungs, then slowly exhale through your mouth. If you’re in a hot or stuffy place, carefully monitor your breathing until you can safely get up to move to a more open area.

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Drink lots of fluids. One possible cause of fainting is dehydration. So, to prevent another fainting spell, drink plenty of water as soon as you get up and throughout the day. Be very cautious about drinking alcohol after fainting, as it will only make you more dehydrated and cause more problems. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Eat several small meals throughout the day. Eating small meals and avoiding skipping meals can help prevent fainting. Try eating 5-6 small meals a day instead of 2-3 full ones.

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Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol can increase your risk of fainting, so if you’re prone to fainting, it’s best to avoid alcohol. If you do drink, make sure you drink in moderation, which is no more than one drink a day for women of all ages and men over 65, and no more than two drinks a day for men under 65. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Protect yourself in the future

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Talk to your doctor. Whether this is your first time fainting or just one of many, you should make an appointment with your doctor to talk about what happened. Your doctor will determine if further treatment is needed, and this will also give you peace of mind. They may also advise you to look out for other warning signs besides fainting, such as increased thirst.

Your doctor may order tests such as a blood sugar test, a common test to check for anemia and nutritional levels, and an electrocardiogram (to check for heart problems). These tests are all standard diagnostic tools. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Your doctor may also place limits on your activity until the cause of the syncope has been treated and stabilized. They may ask you to limit driving and avoid operating any heavy or complex machinery. ^{[13] X Research Source}
A short description or note from someone who witnessed you fainting that you bring to the doctor is also helpful. Either way, you’ve been unconscious for a while, and an eyewitness will help you “fill in the blanks” about what happened to you. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Take preventive medicine. It is likely that your doctor will prescribe medication for you to treat and prevent future fainting episodes. These medications usually work to treat the underlying cause of syncope. For example, corticosteroids are a class of drugs that help increase hydration by increasing sodium levels. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Follow the instructions for use of all medications exactly; otherwise, your fainting spells are at risk of becoming more and more serious.

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Keep enough water for the body and do not let the stomach go hungry. This is helpful advice in all cases, but is especially helpful for people who have experienced fainting. Bring snacks that are high in sugar and salt, such as fruit juices or nuts. This will help prevent blood sugar from getting too low, a common cause of fainting. ^{[16] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Take supplements or herbs. Focus on substances that help improve blood circulation and overall heart health. Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation. Herbal remedies, such as green tea, are also prized for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Talk to your doctor about any herbs and supplements you plan to take to make sure they don’t interact with medications you’re taking or have negative side effects.

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Wear a medical identification ring. You’ve probably seen this type of bracelet before. You can easily order a medical identification ring from your doctor, even online. Medical identification tags include name, medical condition, emergency contact information, and known allergens. This is a great idea if you often have fainting spells or if you plan to travel. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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Learn relaxation techniques. Fainting can also be caused by strong emotions or stress. Learn to control your body’s response by practicing deep breathing techniques. Sign up for a yoga or meditation class to learn the methods that work best for you. Some even suggest hypnotherapy as a way to reduce stress and stabilize blood pressure.

Advice

No routine testing is recommended specifically for people with syncope, but your doctor may order an electrocardiogram to rule out any heart problems, such as an arrhythmia.
Your doctor may also order blood sugar tests, complete blood count tests, electrolytes, and thyroid function tests, depending on your specific condition.
Elevate the head of the bed when sleeping.
Join targeted exercise programs to improve your condition.
If you’re at school, tell your teacher so they can call a nurse to help.
Fainting can be caused by a sudden change in position. Instead of standing up straight from the bed, slide to the edge of the bed and sit for a few seconds before standing up. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Warning

If you feel like you’re about to pass out while driving, pull over to a safe place.

Steps

Treatment when the first symptoms appear

Instant recovery after fainting

Protect yourself in the future

Advice

Warning

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