What Causes Fainting?
|  Head-up tilt table testing allows cardiologists at Desert Springs Hospital to evaluate patients with syncope. |
Typically fainting, or syncope, happens when blood flow to the brain decreases rapidly. Heart problems, certain drugs and other conditions can cause syncope. However, even generally healthy people can faint if their blood vessels and heart don't react fast enough when they stand up or change positions. Tests are available to help determine the specific cause of fainting.
Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center is only the second hospital in the Las Vegas area to offer head-up tilt table testing to evaluate patients with syncope. "We try to reproduce and document the situation that can cause patients to suffer syncope while monitoring them in a safe environment," said Zita Lopes-Kerr, RN, Cardiology and Sleep Lab Supervisor at Desert Springs Hospital. "To do that, we move the table from a horizontal position to an upright position over a period of several minutes and assess a patient's ability to adjust to the changing positions."
During the test, patients are secured to the table with safety belts. Specially trained nurses monitor patients using advanced equipment, including a 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG). They monitor heart rate, subtle changes in the patients' EKG rhythm, blood pressure and blood oxygen level and changes in the patients' level of consciousness.
Cardiologists who specialize in electrophysiology studies (tests for the heart's electrical system) interpret the tilt table test results. Once they identify the cause of patients' symptoms, they may recommend treatments that include lifestyle changes, medications, a pacemaker or an internal defibrillator.
Desert Springs Hospital now offers tilt table testing. To learn more about the test or how to schedule an appointment, please call
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The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106 |
