Seniors who suffer from fainting may have a blood clot in the lungs. Italian researchers looked at 560 patients who were hospitalized for fainting. The researchers found that one in six patients had pulmonary embolism – blood clot in the lung artery.
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Although the findings do not suggest that every fainting patient has a blood clot in the lung but it does bring a greater awareness to doctors if another cause is not found to be responsible for the fainting spell.
Other symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Other causes of fainting among seniors are a seizure, a drop in blood pressure, or heart rhythm disturbances.
Although it would take a very severe blood clot in the lung to cause fainting it is still a serious condition which requires review when dealing with seniors who enter the ER after a fainting spell.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
