Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Different Types of Syncope: A Review

Abstract: Syncope is a sudden transient loss of consciousness and motor control accompanied by loss of postural tone and followed by spontaneous recovery. A wide variety of cardiovascular disorders can cause an abrupt fall in cerebral perfusion that may manifest as recurrent or isolated episodes of syncope and presyncope, which is a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness and near collapse not associated with loss of consciousness or motor control. The major causes of syncope are reflex syncope (60-65 % of cases), psychogenic syncope (15-20 % of cases), cardiac syncope (15-20 % of cases), vascular syncope (2-3 % of cases) and metabolic syncope (2-3 % of cases). Syncope is a common medical problem and the prevalence of syncope increases with age from 0.7 % in men aged 35-44 to 5.6 % in men over the age of 75. This article focuses on the general overview of different types of syncope which includes common causes, epidemiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, signs and treatment of different types of syncope. Key words: Syncope Epidemiology Loss of consciousness Pathophysiology INTRODUCTION includes dysrhythmias, obstructive and ischemic Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness due to accidents, transient ischemic attacks, migraines and inadequate blood flow to the brain. The mechanism of the subclavain steal syndrome. The metabolic syncope syncope in susceptible individuals includes reflex cardiac includes hypoglycemia, hypoxia and hyperventilation [2].