Syncope (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==How to know the reason of your syncope?== | ==How to know the reason of your syncope?== | ||
The goal of the following is to | The goal of the following is to make sure the cause of your syncope. | ||
*Lab tests | *Lab tests | ||
:*[[Complete blood count]], liver function, renal function and serum electrolyte levels | :*[[Complete blood count]], liver function, renal function and serum electrolyte levels | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
*[[ECG]], [[Holter monitor]] and [[electrophysiologic studi: These tests may record any [[arrhythmia]] during the peroid. It may help doctor determine the relationship between syncope and arrhythmia. Compared to Holter monitor, electrophysiologic studies have a higher diagnostic yield, it needs to order to any patient with a suspected arrthymia. | *[[ECG]], [[Holter monitor]] and [[electrophysiologic studi: These tests may record any [[arrhythmia]] during the peroid. It may help doctor determine the relationship between syncope and arrhythmia. Compared to Holter monitor, electrophysiologic studies have a higher diagnostic yield, it needs to order to any patient with a suspected arrthymia. | ||
*Head images: Head images such as [[CT]] and [[MRI]], may be useful to check brain diseases that cause syncope. | *Head images: Head images such as [[CT]] and [[MRI]], may be useful to check brain diseases that cause syncope. | ||
* | *[[Tilt table test]]: This test help reveal abnormal cardiovascular reflexes that produce syncope. During the test, you stand and your initial blood pressure and heart rate are recorded as the baseline. Then the table is tilted at 70 degrees for 45 minutes. Your blood pressure and heart rate are recorded again. At the same time, the nurse observes whether the patient appear symptoms such as [[nausea]] or [[vomiting]]. A positice result suggest the possibility of [[vasovagal syncope]]. | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
Revision as of 19:01, 19 March 2010
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD
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What is syncope?
How do I know if I have syncope?
Syncope itself is a symptom. Patients with syncope may feel:
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Blacking out
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Grogginess, feeling unsteady or weak when standing, even falling
Who is at risk for syncope?
- Cardiac causes
- Arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, long Q-T syndrome
- Abnormal constructure in cardiovascular, such as aortic stenosis, aortic dissection, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Hypertension
- Brain causes
- Vasovagal syncope: This is the most frequent and benign cause of syncope.
How to know the reason of your syncope?
The goal of the following is to make sure the cause of your syncope.
- Lab tests
- Complete blood count, liver function, renal function and serum electrolyte levels
- Cardiac enzymes
- Echocardiography: In patients with known heart disease, echocardiography is needed to check the heart structure and assess left ventricular function.
- ECG, Holter monitor and [[electrophysiologic studi: These tests may record any arrhythmia during the peroid. It may help doctor determine the relationship between syncope and arrhythmia. Compared to Holter monitor, electrophysiologic studies have a higher diagnostic yield, it needs to order to any patient with a suspected arrthymia.
- Head images: Head images such as CT and MRI, may be useful to check brain diseases that cause syncope.
- Tilt table test: This test help reveal abnormal cardiovascular reflexes that produce syncope. During the test, you stand and your initial blood pressure and heart rate are recorded as the baseline. Then the table is tilted at 70 degrees for 45 minutes. Your blood pressure and heart rate are recorded again. At the same time, the nurse observes whether the patient appear symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. A positice result suggest the possibility of vasovagal syncope.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for syncope?
Directions to Hospitals Treating syncope
Prevention of syncope
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4749
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5612
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/811669-overview
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/electric/syncope.aspx