Heart rhythm symptom
Syncope (Fainting) Evaluation in Reseda, CA
Syncope is a sudden loss of consciousness with a typically rapid recovery. It can be harmless or related to a serious heart problem. People who faint should seek medical attention. A heart rhythm specialist may evaluate whether an arrhythmia contributed.
What syncope is
Syncope, or fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness with inability to maintain posture. People may fall and sometimes are injured. Recovered education described inadequate blood flow to the brain, often from a brief drop in blood pressure, as the usual mechanism.
Syncope often recurs. It can range from completely harmless to life-threatening. That is why an episode should be evaluated rather than dismissed.
Heart-related and other causes
Usually, syncope is not caused by a heart condition. Recovered pages also listed stress, pain, dehydration, and medications. Cardiac syncope can result from arrhythmias or from a problem that reduces the heart’s ability to pump enough blood.
Heart valve disease, heart muscle disease, and abnormally fast or slow rhythms were specifically mentioned. Only a physician can sort among these possibilities.
How specialists may evaluate fainting
Evaluation may include a history of what happened before the episode, an exam, and an EKG. Holter or event monitoring, a tilt-table study, or an implantable loop recorder may be discussed when episodes are infrequent or unexplained.
An electrophysiology study is sometimes considered when a rhythm cause is suspected. The plan is individualized.
Potential treatment approaches
Treatments depend on the cause. Recovered education listed adjusting medications, taking medications, pacemaker implantation, and surgical procedures among options that may be discussed.
This page cannot say whether you need a pacemaker, a monitor, or another form of care.
When to contact a physician
Call the office if you have fainted, been told you have unexplained syncope, or were referred for heart rhythm evaluation in the San Fernando Valley. Call 911 if someone is still unresponsive or if fainting occurs with chest pain or severe shortness of breath.
Why heart rhythm evaluation may help
When fainting might be related to a pause, a slow pulse, or a fast ventricular rhythm, an electrophysiology perspective may help document the rhythm and discuss options. Please call to ask whether an evaluation through our Reseda office is appropriate.