Treatment

Immediate treatment is aimed at rapidly restoring the circulatory pressure and cerebral blood flow. If the person falls to the ground the automatic reversal of the postural effect results in spontaneous recovery of blood pressure and consciousness. The situation can be helped by loosening constrictive clothing at the waist or neck and elevating the feet above the level of the heart to aid venous return flow. If the person has not collapsed to the floor and has retained a sitting position then bending forward to place the head below heart level may help.

In cases where fainting is a manifestation of an underlying condition then specific treatment for that condition will need to be implemented.