EP290: Undestanding Blackouts: Causes and Treatments

Host:

Doctor Warrick

16 Jul. 2023

Played 1359 times

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Risks, Heart Health

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.

Blackouts can have many causes including heart issues, brain problems, low blood pressure, and nerves. The heart can cause blackouts due to valve problems, fast rhythms, or slow rhythms. The brain can cause blackouts from strokes or seizures. Low blood pressure, especially in older people or those on medication, can lead to blackouts. Simple faints from overheating or stress on the nerves are the most common cause of blackouts. Tests like echocardiograms and electroencephalograms can help determine the root cause. Driver's licenses may be held until the cause of blackouts is properly identified to ensure safety.

Takeaways:

Blackouts can be caused by heart issues, brain issues, blood pressure problems, or nerves.
Heart issues that cause blackouts include problems with heart valves, abnormal heart rhythms that are too fast or too slow.
Brain issues that cause blackouts include strokes and seizures.
Blood pressure that drops too low, especially in dehydrated or medicated patients, can cause blackouts.
Simple fainting episodes due to the vagus nerve can also cause blackouts but are generally not serious.
Diagnosing the cause of blackouts often requires tests like echocardiograms, electroencephalograms, and loop recorders.
Blackouts due to heart or brain issues may require holding a driver's license until the cause is determined.
Abnormal heart rhythms that cause blackouts can originate from the upper or lower chambers of the heart.
Blackouts due to nerves are usually caused by a strong vagal response that lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of heart issues and deaths, so understanding risk factors is important.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their health literacy and gain information to help them make the best decisions about their risk of heart attack, their cholesterol, blood pressure, risk of diabetes, weight loss and general health. Join me on my personal mission journey to prevent Heart Attack on a global scale. If you like this podcast, I would be honoured by a 5-star review and appreciate if you let your friends and family know about this podcast; you may even save the life of someone you love!

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the Western World. In Australia, someone dies every 28 minutes from heart disease. That’s 51 people a day. In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 SECONDS! Fortunately, many heart attacks are preventable. However, regular exercise and eating healthy are no guarantee you won’t succumb to this silent killer.

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

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The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members: