Syncope

Syncope involves a temporary loss of consciousness – otherwise known as fainting. There are several causes for fainting, most commonly due to abnormal heart rhythms (slow or fast) and fluctuating blood pressure (too high or too low).

Due to the many and varied causes, anyone with syncope should receive a thorough evaluation. If cardiac syncope is suspected, the primary care physician will refer you to a cardiologist or specifically an electrophysiologist. At this point your doctor will check your heart function with an echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart, you may have to wear an external heart monitor, or your doctor may be advised to use a loop recorder implant for arrhythmia monitoring to identify causes for the fainting. You may also be advised a tilt table test to understand underlying mechanism that could be causing your fainting.

Treatment for Syncope

Syncope is not a treatable condition in and of itself and treatment will consist of identifying and managing the underlying disorder that is causing the fainting. A thorough diagnosis from a clinical cardiologist and/or electrophysiologist is critical to minimizing the risk of syncope and improving quality of life. If it is caused by an arrhythmia, medication and/or curative catheter ablation procedure may be considered.