Unconsciousness
An individual may feel dizzy or lightheaded, but fainting is different. If someone passes out, they will fall and be unable to move their arms or legs. They may also make a loud noise, called a “gasping” noise. This can be mistaken for snoring or choking.
While unconsciousness can be caused by many things, including anemia (a problem with blood production), trauma to the head or spinal cord, and poisoning, it can also indicate internal bleeding in some cases. For instance, bleeding into the brain causes shock and loss of consciousness within minutes.
This condition is called hemorrhagic stroke (the most common form). It’s important to note that some patients may appear normal upon waking up after being unconscious due to internal bleeding, but they’ll regain consciousness without realizing anything happened.
If anyone has any doubts about whether someone has fainted or not, they should call 911 immediately and start CPR if needed.
