Who does it affect

Fainting is a common condition leading to many attendances at emergency departments in hospitals.

It can occur at any age although vasovagal fainting tends to be more frequent in younger adults. Around 3% of adults aged 30-62 years are likely to experience a fainting attack although a first-ever vasovagal faint is less likely in those over 45 years of age.

Older patients who faint are more likely to have a more sinister underlying cause. At least 60% of all people experience at least one episode of fainting during their lifetime.

One study has shown that fainting is marginally more common in females