Transient loss of consciousness can be very alarming. Blackouts can be due to both cardiac and neurological causes so seeking advice from your GP is important. They may refer you to a cardiologist who can help understand the cause so you can access treatment.
Prompt assessment, particularly if recurrent, is critical to either provide reassurance or offer treatment.
What are Blackouts?
Syncope is a medical term for a blackout or faint caused by a sudden drop in the supply of blood to the brain. The result can be a short-term loss of consciousness.
Cardiac causes of blackouts include:
Simple faints
Vasovagal syncope
Sinus node disease
Heart block
Diagonises and Treatment for Blackouts
A thorough assessment is needed to establish the cause of your symptoms and prepare treatment for blackouts. An appropriate management plan can be put in place to help ease the symptoms through the use of management, medication or surgery.
An ECG or Diagnostic electrophysiology study can be carried out to understand more about your specific symptoms so a treatment can be recommended.
Treatment for Heart Rhythm Abnormaltities
Depending on the results of the assessment, treatment options will vary but will be tailored to your case and needs. This could range from management with medicines or catheter ablation. Another option is the insertion of a cardiovascular implantable electornic device. These are also known as a pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator.
Make an Appointment
Dr David Begley is a Consultant Cardiologist in the UK who specialises in cardiac rhythm management. This is the investigation and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities or arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias most often cause an awareness of the heart beating (palpitations) but patients with arrhythmias may also have symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness, light-headedness or blackouts (syncope). Dr Begley aims to quickly identify the cause of these worrying symptoms and provide reassurance or offer appropriate guided treatment.
If you have experienced symptoms you might think are related to blackouts or syncope, please discuss with your general practitioner. They may establish a referral is appropriate so you can then discuss your symptoms with a Cardiologist.
To make an appointment please contact Dr David Begley’s Private Secretary Lynn Thomas via email.