Syncope
Neurologic or Mechanical Causes, or Both
Mediated by vagal stimulation or autonomic insufficiency,
or both
Vasovagal reaction (often associated with strong emotion or pain)
Prolonged recumbency or inactivity
Peripheral neuropathy with autonomic involvement (e.g., diabetes, amyloidosis, tabes dorsalis)
Drugs (e.g., nitrates, antihypertensive agents, ganglionic blockers, alcohol)
Carotid sinus syncope
Micturition syncope
Swallow syncope
Stretch syncope
Bowel stimulation or defecation syncope
Airway stimulation (e.g., suctioning)
Eyeball pressure
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Syringomyelia
Shy-Drager syndrome
Sympathectomy
Primary autonomic insufficiency
Seizure
Head trauma
Reduced cardiac output or venous return
Hypovolemia
Hypotension
Valsalva maneuver
Cough
Voluntary forced expiration against closed glottis
Weight lifting
Atrial myxoma or thrombus
Cardiac tamponade
Cardiopulmonary Causes
Cardiac arrhythmias
Bradyarrhythmias (e.g., sick sinus syndrome)
Tachyarrhythmias (especially ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia)
Atrioventricular block
Pulmonary embolism
Myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock
Pericardial tamponade
Aortic stenosis
Pulmonic stenosis
Primary pulmonary hypertension
Congenital heart disease
Cardiomyopathies
Shock
Atrial myxoma or thrombus
Prosthetic valve thrombosis or obstruction
Cerebrovascular Causes
Atherosclerotic disease of carotid and/or cerebral vessels (especially vertebral-basilar insufficiency)
Subclavian steal
Takayasu's arteritis
Hypertensive encephalopathy
Cervical spine abnormalities (e.g., cervical spondylosis)
Metabolic Causes
Anemia
Hypoxia
Hyperventilation
Hypoglycemia
Adrenal insufficiency
Psychological Causes
Anxiety, hysteria
References
1. Pedley TA, Ziegler DK: Syncope and Seizure, p. 12. See Bibliography, 2.
2. Friedman HH: Syncope, p. 395. See Bibliography, 4.
Book Source Details
- Book Title: A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis
- Author(s): Stephen N. Adler, Dianne B. Gasbarra
- Year of Publication: 1999
- Copyright Details: A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis, Copyright © 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Other Book Chapters Related to Drowsiness
Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Drowsiness:
Copyright Details: A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.
More About Causes of Drowsiness
» Next page: Acute Confusional State or Coma, or Both* (A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis)
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