Fainting is a state where someone is unaware of the environment and is unresponsive despite being alive.

What are the likely causes?

1. Following severe weakness e.g. in malaria or typhoid
2. Head injury e.g. in a motor accident
3. Low blood sugar e.g. after prolonged starvation or fasting
4. High blood sugar e.g. in patients with uncontrolled diabetes
5. Low blood level e.g. following heavy menstrual flow, or incomplete abortion
6. Internal bleeding e.g. in women with ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the wrong place)
7. Stroke
8. Heart attack
9. Excessive alcohol intake
10. Overdose of sleeping pills e.g. valium, tramadol
11. Shock e.g. after vomiting or diarrhea

What you can do

1. Help the person to lie down flat preferably on the left side
2. Raise the person’s legs up, put a pillow under
3. Fan the person’s body
4. Transport the person to a hospital immediately
5. Do not feed the person until he/she come around
6. Do not force herbs, oil or spoon into the person’s mouth