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What Causes Lightheaded Feeling And Fainting Spells?
Question: My 22 year old daughter fainted while shopping. She indicated feeling lightheaded and slightly warm. She sat down and passed out. Duration she does not kno, upon awakening she felt fine except being confsed as to what happened. There is no family history of sads or faintings. Her aunt has mitral valve prolapse however amd I understand this caught be hereditary. She saw he pcp a week later, he did an ekg and blood work, all normal. He apparently does not plan any further testing but is unaware of aunts mvp. Do you feel further testing is warrented ?
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
Since the EKG and blood work were all normal ,there is nothing to worry about.
The reason of fainting most likely must have been a falling in blood pressure due to standing long hours upright.
A low blood sugar (hypoglicemia ) might be another cause(If she hadn't eaten well that day).
In most of the cases MVP doesn't cause any symptom at all and doesn't require any treatment.
In other cases it may cause symptoms of :
-dizziness ,lightheadedness
-Fatigue
-Shortness of breath during physical activity
-fast heart beat.
If she hasn't any symptoms and apart the incident of fainting she is healthy ,then you have nothing to worry about.
MVP usually causes a heart murmur ,noticeable during physical examination with a stethoscope.So most likely the physical examination was totally normal and there is no need to do further tests.
Although MVP tends to run in families ,it doesn't mean that your daughter has it.
If you are worried and want to put your mind at ease , she can do a heart ultrasound that would exclude 100% the presence of MVP.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
Since the EKG and blood work were all normal ,there is nothing to worry about.
The reason of fainting most likely must have been a falling in blood pressure due to standing long hours upright.
A low blood sugar (hypoglicemia ) might be another cause(If she hadn't eaten well that day).
In most of the cases MVP doesn't cause any symptom at all and doesn't require any treatment.
In other cases it may cause symptoms of :
-dizziness ,lightheadedness
-Fatigue
-Shortness of breath during physical activity
-fast heart beat.
If she hasn't any symptoms and apart the incident of fainting she is healthy ,then you have nothing to worry about.
MVP usually causes a heart murmur ,noticeable during physical examination with a stethoscope.So most likely the physical examination was totally normal and there is no need to do further tests.
Although MVP tends to run in families ,it doesn't mean that your daughter has it.
If you are worried and want to put your mind at ease , she can do a heart ultrasound that would exclude 100% the presence of MVP.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubts to clarify.I will be happy to help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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