Latest news with #fainting
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Health
- Gizmodo
Man Spends 6 Days in the Hospital After Toothbrushing Session Goes Terribly Wrong
Here's another thing to add to the list of highly unlikely but deeply horrifying injuries you could sustain in the safety of your own home. A recent case report detailed a 50-year-old man who fainted while brushing his teeth and ended up hospitalized as a result. Doctors at The University of Tokyo Hospital described the unusual incident earlier this month in BMJ Case Reports. After fainting, the man's toothbrush scraped the back of his throat severely enough to trap air inside, raising the risk of a potentially serious infection. He was hospitalized for nearly a week and avoided any disastrous complications. According to the report, the man first visited the hospital with a mild sore throat. Sometime earlier, he experienced 'syncope' (the medical term for fainting) while brushing his teeth. Upon initial physical examination, the doctors spotted a three-millimeter-long abrasion along his soft palate without bleeding. But a CT scan soon revealed a more dangerous injury: retropharyngeal emphysema. This condition is characterized by free air or gas entering the area behind the throat. It's most often caused by bronchial asthma, though physical exertion or even non-violent coughing can spontaneously cause it as well. The condition can be dangerous because it might allow certain bacteria to grow in areas of the chest where they typically couldn't, leading to life-threatening infections like mediastinitis. It may also trigger the formation of blood clots in the carotid artery, which could then cause a stroke. The man was hospitalized and given a prophylactical course of antibiotics to prevent these bacteria from taking hold. He recovered and was discharged six days later with no complications or CT abnormalities. Unsurprisingly, toothbrush-related injuries are much less common among adults than they are in children. But there are rare reports of adults injuring their throats with wayward toothbrushes under unusual circumstances. So doctors should at least be aware of these injuries, the report authors wrote, and they should order medical imaging to properly assess the extent of the damage caused by them. People who develop toothbrush-related retropharyngeal emphysema should also be given preventative antibiotics and hospitalized for observation for at least two to three days, they added. All things considered, the man's fainting episode could have ended up way worse. In 2023, for instance, a different team of doctors in Japan wrote about a man who fell while brushing and got his toothbrush literally lodged through the back of his throat. The object luckily avoided puncturing any vital body parts or arteries and was successfully removed surgically. And yes, just in case anyone's wondering, people have also gotten hurt from sticking a toothbrush up their butt (please be advised that the preceding link to the report contains very graphic images of said injury).
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Two Wimbledon fans faint in Carlos Alcaraz semi-final with temperatures soaring
Two spectators at Wimbledon fainted in the same game of Carlos Alcaraz 's semi-final on Friday as temperatures hit 31C on Centre Court. A day on from three fans fainting during the women's semi-finals, Alcaraz's match against Taylor Fritz was interrupted in the second set. In the east stand bathed in sunshine, a brief stoppage of around two minutes occurred with Fritz 4-3 up on serve, as the spectator was tended to by medical staff and umbrellas. Moments later, in the same game, an elderly fan in the west stand was taken away by paramedics before collapsing to the ground, just before reaching the steps down to the gangway. She was later taken away on a stretcher. The stoppage seemed to aid Fritz, who carved out his first break point of the match, but Alcaraz saved it with a massive first serve and held. Temperatures were around 31C when the incidents occurred, with 32C likely to be the maximum temperature midway through the afternoon. Andre Agassi, the 1992 Wimbledon champion, said on commentary for the BBC: 'As players we train for this [heat]. 'They [spectators] are sitting in the baking sun and as players we worry about them. 'Let's hope they are OK.' Defending champion Alcaraz won the first set against world No 5 Fritz, as the Spaniard looks to book his spot in a third consecutive Wimbledon final.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fainting and the summer heat: Warmer days can make you swoon, so be prepared
Over one million Americans faint every year, and countless more do worldwide. Fear, pain, the sight of blood or prolonged standing – think the long lines of summer travel – can trigger fainting. These triggers set off a reflex in our nervous system that cause our hearts to paradoxically slow instead of speed up, and our blood vessels to dilate instead of constrict. Blood pressure and brain blood flow plummet, and we faint. Excessive heat plays a role, too, as it makes it more difficult for the body to maintain blood pressure. With the weather warming across the country, now is a good time to know signs and symptoms that lead to fainting. As a physiologist, I can offer some pointers. Physiologists, neurologists and cardiologists have long studied how people regulate blood pressure and maintain consciousness while standing. Upon standing, there is an immediate decline in blood pressure, and the body must respond to this decline. The normal response includes constriction of blood vessels, increased heart rate and the release of various hormones into the bloodstream. Together these responses help to maintain blood pressure. By protecting blood pressure, our oxygen-thirsty brain ensures that it will continue to be adequately nourished. Usually the response is flawless – we can stand without any trouble. But various triggers sometimes mess up this finely tuned response, and the summer heat makes it more challenging to regulate blood pressure. Ultimately, if blood pressure is not maintained, brain blood flow will decline. The fancy term for this is cerebral hypoperfusion – the defining characteristic of fainting (i.e., syncope), whatever the cause or trigger. The symptoms that precede syncope vary but may include sweating, nausea, paleness and abdominal discomfort. Soldiers standing guard for long periods in the heat without moving can have excessive gravity-induced pooling of blood in their legs, which can trigger a faint. But simply shifting weight from one leg to another will contract the leg muscles and propel blood toward the heart and head. This will usually prevent a severe decline in blood pressure. Astronauts returning to Earth after a sojourn in space are especially sensitive to gravity. When they first return to Earth, many astronauts cannot stand for more then a few minutes without experiencing syncope. Fortunately, this resolves once they get reaccustomed to Earth's gravity over the ensuing days. Sometimes extreme emotion elicits a faint – think Aunt Pittypat swooning in 'Gone with the Wind.' Other triggers include watching a medical procedure, seeing blood or experiencing pain. Also, anything that depletes the body of fluid can increase the risk of fainting. This includes dehydration, diarrhea or diuretics (water pills). Life-threatening issues involving the heart are also a cause of fainting. Abnormal heart rhythms that are too slow or too fast can cause a faint. These abnormal rhythms dramatically decrease the blood pumped out by the heart, which causes blood pressure and brain blood flow to decrease. Structural heart problems (termed cardiomyopathies) are sometimes the cause of these abnormal heart rhythms. Other times, inherited disorders related to faulty ion channels in the heart cells (called channelopathies) are a cause. Fortunately, these are rare. One to 3% of emergency room visits are due to fainting. Among the elderly, fainting is a common symptom prompting a trip to the emergency room. For reasons not completely understood, women faint more than men. And the economic burden of syncope is high. Direct hospitalization costs in the U.S. are US$2 billion to $3 billion per year. Can you prevent a faint? Sometimes. Here are some tips: Stay well-hydrated, avoid extreme temperatures, including long hot showers, and avoid fasting for too long. When standing, be sure to shift your weight from one leg to another, and if you begin to feel woozy, cross your legs and clench the muscles in your buttocks and legs. This really can help to prevent a faint. Also, avoid alcohol, hyperventilation and sudden posture changes. Last, if you faint, be sure to consult a health care provider. Determining the cause of fainting is not always easy. If fainting occurs more than once, your health care provider may recommend increasing salt and water intake, and may prescribe medication to help manage symptoms. Exercise training is also often recommended. While fainting is often benign – especially in younger patients – it is important to get checked out. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: William B. Farquhar, University of Delaware Read more: Bacteria live on our eyeballs – and understanding their role could help treat common eye diseases Why Federal Reserve independence matters Why do people faint? William B. Farquhar does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
You're showering wrong! Doctor reveals common washing error that could be life-threatening
Take note of the temperature of your shower, as a few degrees too hot could result in a potentially life-threatening injury, a doctor has warned. According to German-based vascular health expert Dr Max Maddahali, 'excessively hot' showers can trigger a dangerous drop in blood pressure that could cause you to faint, risking serious injury and even death. The hot environment causes blood vessels to expand in the skin, an instinctive biological reaction to try and cool the body down. This process can—in some circumstances—trigger feelings of dizziness and even cause you to fall unconscious. Fainting can be dangerous at any time but doing in the bathroom could be extremely serious given the number of hard surfaces to hit your head on. As such, experts advise turning the shower down a few degrees if you find yourself feeling dizzy or installing a temperature lock to avoid the temptation entirely. Those particularly prone to feelings of dizziness in the shower—such as patients with an existing health condition—may want to have a grab bar, anti-slip or even a stool installed to provide quick support. Patients can also be recommended to get a wearable medical alert device, which can come as a bracelet, and can raise the alarm if a person falls or finds themselves injured. But Dr Maddahali said fainting wasn't the only health hazard you risked by having a hot shower. In a TikTok clip which has been viewed over 14million times, he also said it could also pose a risk to your skin, hair and even your immune system. Dr Maddahali said: 'There's some natural on your skin that are keeping your skin moist.' 'Hot water can wash them off completely so dryness can happen. 'Also, too hot water can cause hair damage.' Scalding water damages hair much in the same way it damages skin, by stripping it of natural oils that protect making it more vulnerable to damage. While Dr Maddahali didn't explain how hot showers weaken the immune system—our body's natural defence against dangerous virus and bacteria—some research suggests this is true. Hot water is more effective at removing a natural layer of 'good' bacteria that live naturally on the skin. Some experts suggest removing this layer leads to a less active immune system, which could reduce its ability to respond to actual threats. Social media users reacting to the clip said they would keep their steaming hot showers, despite the medic's advice. 'I respectfully will not take your advice,' one wrote. Another added: 'It is therapeutic, hot showers keep me sane.' Medics have provided a range of advice about showers over the years, from when to take them to what to never do in them. While the nation may be divided about if morning or evening showers reign supreme, experts have ruled a shower before bed to be superior. Dr Jason Singh, a primary care physician in Virginia, previously highlighted how an evening showers improved sleep quality, washing away pollutants, and hydrating dry skin. But experts have said you should 'never' urinate in the shower as it could train your brain into associating the act with the sound of running water and leading to incontinence.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Groom's shocking reaction to his 'beautiful bride' at the altar goes viral
A jittery groom shockingly fainted at the altar during his wedding ceremony in a frightening moment that was caught on video. A clip of the scary incident shows Gustavo Schmitz, 23, standing with his bride-to-be Pamela Berto Schmitz, 25, while exchanging vows at the nuptials in Santa Catarina, Brazil on Saturday. The couple was waiting to say 'I do' when Gustavo suddenly started swaying. The overcome groom was then seen toppling backwards as the pastor rushed forward in a desperate attempt to save him. Guests immediately rushed to the groom's side before one of his friends, a doctor, provided assistance and allowed the wedding to continue. Gustavo blamed the fainting spell on normal wedding-day jitters - as well as the emotion of seeing his gorgeous bride at the altar. 'I suffer a lot from anxiety, I take medication,' Gustavo said in interview with Brazilian news outlet NSC. 'Then, combined with that, the rush, not having eaten almost anything during the day and, mainly, seeing my fiancée looking beautiful the way she was.' Video of the incident has generated millions of views on social media, prompting the couple to respond to all of the attention. 'We're fine, married and happy, it was just a big scare,' Pamela wrote in a Facebook post. Gustavo did not have any recollection of the fall but was reminded by Pamela that he had mentioned at the altar that he was not feeling well. However, Pamela didn't not take him seriously because he is a known prankster. 'I always say that if it's not going to cause trouble, I won't even leave the house,' Gustavo joked.
