Fainting can be caused by a number of factors linked to a person's heart, circulation, blood pressure and breathing. The type of fainting attack described here is the most frequent and can happen at any time to otherwise healthy people.

What triggers fainting?
Things that trigger fainting include stressful situations, excitement and pain. This could include visiting the doctor for a blood sample, or being in an overheated or overcrowded room. Fainting typically occurs in connection with both physical and mental strain, and especially if a person does not feel well to start with. Fainting can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Often, everything goes black. The person then turns pale, starts sweating and possibly feels sick. It can happen while standing, sitting down or if one gets up too quickly.

What to do if someone feels faint
Usually people have some idea that they're going to faint and can warn the people around them. If you know someone is going to faint, or suspect that it is going to happen, help the person lie down, preferably with their head low and the legs raised. This helps the blood flow back to the brain. Never try to get them up, as this will only make the problem worse. If they become unconscious, it rarely takes more than a few minutes to regain consciousness completely, although the arms and legs might still feel weak. If a person tries to get up too fast, they may feel dizzy and perhaps even faint again.

If a person feels faint and isn't able to lie down, they should sit instead, putting their head between their knees. A friend should hold the person's hand behind his or her head and press downwards. At the same time, the person feeling faint should push their head upwards. This makes the blood flow to the brain, reducing the symptoms and reducing the risk of fainting.

How to avoid fainting
People who faint easily should pay attention to the situations that trigger their fainting attacks. If you think you are going to faint, alert the people around you so they can be prepared for what might happen. Fainting attacks are normally short. If a person is unconscious for more than one or two minutes without any signs of regaining consciousness, additional first aid may be needed. For any unconscious person, the safest position to place them in is the 'recovery' position – on their side with their chin up slightly so that they can breathe easily. Stay with an unconscious person until they recover, or help arrives, if at all possible.