Sign or Symptom
syncope
syn·co·pe [ sing-kuh-pee, sin- ]
Subclass of:
Unconscious State
Etymology:
Greek synkope = a faint; from syn = with + koptein = to cut off
Definitions related to syncope:
-
A spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
A transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., BRAIN ISCHEMIA). Presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Fainting due to a sudden fall of blood pressure below the level required to maintain oxygenation of brain tissue.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
-
Fainting or loss of consciousness caused by a temporary shortage of oxygen in the brain.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
-
Sudden loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone, not related to anesthesia with spontaneous recovery as reported by patient or observer. Patient may experience syncope when supine.ACC/AHA Clinical Data TerminologyAmerican College of Cardiology and American Heart Association , 2020
-
Syncope refers to a generalized weakness of muscles with loss of postural tone, inability to stand upright, and loss of consciousness. Once the patient is in a horizontal position, blood flow to the brain is no longer hindered by gravitation and consciousness is regained. Unconsciousness usually lasts for seconds to minutes. Headache and drowsiness (which usually follow seizures) do not follow a syncopal attack. Syncope results from a sudden impairment of brain metabolism usually due to a reduction in cerebral blood flow.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
-
Transitory loss of consciousness and postural tone.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
(fainting) Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
(fainting) Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. If you're about to faint, you'll feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Your field of vision may "white out" or "black out." Your skin may be cold and clammy. You lose muscle control at the same time, and may fall down. Fainting usually happens when your blood pressure drops suddenly, causing a decrease in blood flow to your brain. It is more common in older people. Some causes of fainting include Heat or dehydration; Emotional distress; Standing up too quickly; Certain medicines; Drop in blood sugar; Heart problems . When someone faints, make sure that the airway is clear and check for breathing. The person should stay lying down for 10-15 minutes. Most people recover completely. Fainting is usually nothing to worry about, but it can sometimes be a sign of a serious problem. If you faint, it's important to see your health care provider and find out why it happened.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
(syncope/fainting) A spontaneous, transient, loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain.U.S. FDA GlossaryU.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2021
-
A disorder characterized by spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse EventsU.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
-
Syncope is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness with loss of postural tone followed by spontaneous revival. The patient is motionless and limp and usually has cool extremities, a weak pulse, and shallow breathing. Sometimes brief involuntary muscle jerks occur, resembling a seizure.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
-
Syncope is defined as a transient, self-limited loss of consciousness with an inability to maintain postural tone that is followed by spontaneous recovery. This definition excludes seizures, coma, shock, or other states of altered consciousness.WebMD, 2019
-
Syncope, effect of temporary impairment of blood circulation to a part of the body. The term is most often used as a synonym for fainting, which is caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain as a result of a fall in blood pressure. Fainting tends to be preceded first by paleness, nausea, and...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> S
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.