Fainting (though usually harmless) should be investigated by a doctor so once your teen has an episode it is a good idea to bring them.
Teenagers can faint quite often or just once however; if your teenager is a person who consistently faints there are some things to know about it. Fainting is usually not serious, but it can be a frightening experience for young adults, and it can be embarrassing if they faint in public. Here are a few things to know about teenagers who faint:
When fainting occurs
When fainting occurs, it can be a scary experience - not only for the child themselves but for parents and caregivers too. It is important to remain calm when your teenager or child faints and to not frighten them when they regain consciousness. They may be confused, and younger children can get upset whereas teenagers may be more controlled but equally, scared of the experience.
Make sure you give your teenager a drink and try to offer something to eat to get their energy levels up. You may want to pop them onto a seat to rest and let them relax with deep breaths while they recover. Stay with them so they feel safe and secure as often they worry it will happen again and are scared. You’ll need to reassure them but also note that you need to see your doctor for a simple check-up.
Causes of fainting
Fainting is caused when the brain lacks enough blood pressure and the body reacts by trying to get more blood to the brain. This proves hard as the person is standing or sitting up so this causes the fainting and then the body can get the blood to the brain quicker than that of a person standing up as they are now lying down.
The blood pressure drop is usually caused by dehydration and teenagers may have not drank enough in the hours prior to a fainting episode however; there are other causes of fainting including hot rooms, overcrowding and fearful situations. Finding out the triggers for your teenager is key to figuring out why fainting has occurred and reducing the chances of it happening again.
Going to the doctor
Fainting (though usually harmless) should be investigated by a doctor so once your teen has an episode it is a good idea to bring them to your doctor regardless of whether they are ‘up and about’ with no signs of ill health. As there are some medical conditions that can cause fainting it is best to eliminate them and ensure your teenager is in good health.
Blood clots, anaemia and heart defects could cause fainting and it is always best to check your teenager over and move on without worrying about the trauma of fainting. Your doctor will ask a lot of questions about the fainting incident and will need to know about what led up to that moment as well as needing some basic health questions answered. In some cases, your teen
will be referred to the hospital for more tests but in most cases, there is no need unless fainting occurs frequently.
Living with the risk of fainting episodes
If your teenager faints regularly they may find they feel “off” before an episode and it is good to tell them to talk to their teacher or simply sit down (even on the ground) regardless of where they are to reduce the chances of falling down and causing themselves injury. People report feeling dizzy, tired, nauseous, rapid (or slow) heartbeat and body temperature changes.
Before fainting, people may see spots and find their vision is compromised while they may look visibly ill before they lose consciousness and faint. Make sure you talk to your teenagers’ school about the fainting and tell them how to proceed if your teenager faints in school. Keep them updated about your teenagers health.