Syncopal Episodes Are Common In The Elderly And Are Most Often Caused By Which Of The Following?
In older adults, the most common causes of syncope are orthostatic hypotension, reflex syncope, and heart disease.
What causes syncope in the elderly?
The most common causes of syncope in the older adults are orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus hypersensitivity, neuromediated syncope and cardiac arrhythmias. The diagnostic evaluation and the treatment of cardiac syncope are similar in older and young patients and for this reason will not be discussed.
What is the most common cause of syncope?
Vasovagal syncope (also called cardio-neurogenic syncope) Vasovagal syncope is the most common type of syncope. It is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, which causes a drop in blood flow to the brain. When you stand up, gravity causes blood to settle in the lower part of your body, below your diaphragm.
What system causes syncope?
Vasovagal syncope occurs when the part of your nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure malfunctions in response to a trigger, such as the sight of blood. Your heart rate slows, and the blood vessels in your legs widen (dilate).
What is the most common etiology of syncope in adults?
Among the causes of syncope, the mediated neural reflex, known as neurocardiogenic or vasovagal syncope, is the most frequent. The others are of cardiac origin, orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus hypersensitivity, neurological and endocrinological causes and psychiatric disorders.
What is syncope in the elderly?
Syncope is usually caused by a temporary decrease of blood flow to your brain. Syncope is not considered a disease in itself, but instead a symptom of one or more possibly serious conditions. Some of the possible causes are essentially harmless. However, some can be life-threatening.
What is syncopal episode?
Fainting, or passing out, is referred to medically as a syncopal episode, or syncope. Syncopal episodes are typically triggered by a sudden, temporary drop in blood flow to the brain, which leads to loss of consciousness and muscle control.
What is transient syncope?
Syncope describes a sudden and brief transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) with postural failure due to cerebral global hypoperfusion. The term TLOC is used when the cause is either unrelated to cerebral hypoperfusion or is unknown.
What is the cause of fainting?
Many different conditions can cause fainting. These include heart problems such as irregular heart beats, seizures, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), anemia (a deficiency in healthy oxygen carrying cells), and problems with how the nervous system (the body’s system of nerves) regulates blood pressure.
What causes cough induced syncope?
Cough syncope is generally due to increased vagal tone and decreased peripheral sympathetic tone, which causes bradycardia and hypotension. Cough syncope results from a vasovagal reflex caused by an increase in thoracic pressure.
What do you do after a syncope episode?
How is vasovagal syncope treated?
- Avoiding triggers, such as standing for a long time or the sight of blood.
- Moderate exercise training.
- Discontinuing medicines that lower blood pressure, like diuretics.
- Eating a higher salt diet, to help keep up blood volume.
- Drinking plenty of fluids, to maintain blood volume.
How common is fainting?
As scary as it may be, fainting – also known as syncope – is actually very common. It occurs in about one-third of the general population, and there are a number of different things that can cause someone to pass out.
What causes heart fainting?
The most common heart-related causes for fainting are problems with the heart’s electrical system, which can result in a too-slow heartbeat, known as bradycardia, or a too-fast heartbeat, known as tachycardia, according to Harvey Kramer, MD, a cardiologist at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and an assistant professor
What is the pathophysiology of syncope?
The pathophysiology of syncope is summarized as a reduction in systemic blood pressure that causes a decrease in the global cerebral blood flow, which results in loss of consciousness. A sudden cessation of cerebral blood flow for 6 to 8 seconds has been shown to cause loss of consciousness.
What are the complications of syncope?
Complications
- Recurrent syncope has serious effects on quality of life.
- Morbidity is particularly high in the elderly and includes loss of confidence, reduced mobility, depressive illness, fear of falling, fractures and subsequent institutionalisation.