Blackouts and Nausea: Understanding Potential Causes & When to Seek Medical Help
Blackouts (syncope) with nausea require urgent medical evaluation. Potential causes:
- Cardiac: Arrhythmia, structural disease, aortic stenosis, HCM
- Neurologic: Seizure, TIA/stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Vasovagal: Nausea often precedes faint (common but diagnosis of exclusion)
- Metabolic: Hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalance, adrenal crisis
- Toxicologic: CO poisoning, overdose, withdrawal
- Pregnancy: Ectopic, preeclampsia
Red Flags (Call 911 / Go to ER)
- Chest pain, palpitations
- Focal neurologic deficits
- Head trauma
- Persistent confusion
- Pregnancy
- Known heart disease
Even if "just a faint," medical assessment is needed to rule out life-threatening causes. Don't drive yourself.
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