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Have you ever felt lightheaded, dizzy, or suddenly blacked out for a moment? This temporary loss of consciousness is known as syncope. It is often harmless, but sometimes it can indicate a serious underlying condition. Don’t worry, in this blog, we will discuss syncope, its causes, symptoms, and how chiropractic care in Singapore can offer relief.
What is Syncope?
Syncope, also known as fainting or passing out, is a medical term that describes a brief loss of consciousness. This sudden episode occurs when your brain doesn’t receive enough blood for a short period.
Your brain relies on a constant source of oxygen-rich blood supply to function properly. When blood flow to the brain decreases suddenly, even for a second, your brain signals your body to increase heart rate and constrict blood vessels to restore normal circulation.
However, when these adjustments fail briefly, syncope occurs. It usually happens unexpectedly, and most people regain their full consciousness within a few minutes. It is a common condition, especially in older adults over the age of 70. Syncope can indicate a serious underlying condition, so it’s important to seek medical help.
What Causes Syncope?
Different conditions or underlying problems can cause you to faint. Some of the most common causes include:
1. Reflex Mediated Syncope
It is also known as neurocardiogenic syncope. It occurs when there is a temporary problem in your autonomic nervous system that controls your body’s autonomic functions, such as heart rate and digestion.
As a result, our reflexes are not properly regulated. This causes a drop in blood pressure, which decreases heart rate. This, in turn, affects the blood supply to the brain.
There are three types of reflex-mediated syncope:
- Vasovagal Syncope: This represents approximately 50% of all syncope cases. It occurs when your body responds to a certain trigger, such as seeing blood, severe pain, or standing too long.
- Situational Syncope: It occurs when you do certain activities, such as coughing and laughing.
- Carotid Sinus Syncope: It happens when there is pressure on your carotid artery, located in the neck. Things like sudden neck movements and wearing tight collars can press this artery.
2. Cardiac Syncope
As the name suggests, cardiac syncope happens due to a problem within your heart. When your heart doesn’t pump blood as it should, your brain receives less blood, and this causes you to faint.
Stats indicate that almost 15% of fainting episodes occur due to cardiac syncope. The following cardiac conditions can lead to syncope:
- Arrhythmias
- Heart valve disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Pulmonary embolism
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Heart failure
3. Orthostatic Syncope
It occurs as a result of orthostatic hypotension, which causes your blood pressure to drop quickly when you change your position from sitting or lying to standing. The sudden change in blood pressure occurs as a result of gravity. Normally, our body has a compensatory mechanism to adjust blood pressure.
But this doesn’t happen in orthostatic hypotension. As a result, blood flow to your brain decreases, and symptoms, like fainting, occur. Dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, certain medications, and chronic alcohol use can cause orthostatic hypotension and syncope.
Symptoms of Syncope
The main symptom of syncope is passing out. But you may experience the following symptoms before losing consciousness.
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating
- Vision changes (blur or tunnel vision)
- Weakness or unsteadiness
- Cold and damp skin
- Changes in heart rhythm
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Skin paleness
- Drop in blood pressure
People with syncope usually regain consciousness after a few minutes. If this doesn’t happen, it might be a seizure or some other neurological problem.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the cause of Syncope, your healthcare provider will take your detailed medical history. He might want to know about your fainting episodes, when and how long you were unconscious. He may ask what you felt before fainting and if anything triggered it. Further, he would want to know if you are taking any medications or if you regularly drink alcohol.
During the physical examination, he will check your blood pressure and heart rate in various positions, including lying, sitting, and standing. He will also assess your muscle strength and reflexes. Further, he might order the following tests:
- ECG: It measures the electrical activity of your heart and helps detect arrhythmias, any signs of ischemia, and other heart conditions that cause syncope.
- Tilt Table Test: It measures your blood pressure while your body is tilted to stimulate standing. This helps detect if any changes in posture trigger syncope.
- Blood Tests: Blood tests can help check anemia and electrolyte imbalances that could contribute to syncope.
- Carotid Sinus Massage: Your doctor will gently massage the carotid artery located in your neck. It can help detect carotid sinus syncope.
- Stress Test: It checks how well your heart responds to stressful situations.
- Imaging Tests: Your doctor might order an MRI or CT scan if they suspect any neurological cause of syncope.
This will help him examine blood vessels and other structures in your brain.
Syncope Treatment
The treatment of syncope depends on the underlying cause. Its goal is to keep you from having another episode of passing out. Some of the common treatment approaches for syncope include:
1. Medications
Your doctor might switch or adjust the dose of your medications that lower blood pressure. He may also prescribe medications like a beta blocker and midodrine to manage syncope.
2. Treating Heart Conditions
If your fainting is linked to heart problems, such as arrhythmia or valve disease, your doctor might prescribe procedures like pacemaker implantation or catheter ablation to improve heart function and prevent loss of consciousness.
3. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps improve your blood flow, strengthen your muscles in the legs, and boost your body’s ability to regulate blood pressure. Further, your physical therapist can help you learn simple maneuvers, such as crossing your legs or squeezing muscles. This helps increase the blood return to the heart when any warning signs of fainting appear, thus preventing blackouts.
4. Biofeedback Training
Biofeedback training is a technique that teaches you how to gain control of your body’s involuntary (autonomic) functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. This helps your body better manage the signals that lead to a decrease in blood flow to the brain, thus preventing syncopal episodes.
5. Lifestyle Modifications
Managing certain lifestyle changes can help prevent fainting episodes. Here are some simple adjustments you can make to avoid syncope:
- Stay well hydrated and drink plenty of fluids, as severe dehydration can trigger fainting.
- Try to avoid sudden changes in posture. Take your time and get up slowly from bed to prevent a sudden drop in blood pressure.
- Wear compression stockings as they prevent pooling of blood in the lower extremities and improve blood circulation.
- Eat regular, balanced meals. Skipping meals or low blood sugar levels can bring on syncope, so try to maintain consistent meal times.
- If certain triggers, like seeing blood or standing for too long, cause you to faint, try to minimize your exposure.
- Keep yourself cool. Overheating or oversweating can lead to fainting, so dress properly for the weather.
- Limit alcohol and caffeine, as they can contribute to dehydration and cause a dip in blood pressure in some people.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help People With Syncope In Singapore?
Chiropractic care can help people with syncope, especially vasovagal syncope. It is focused on improving the function of the nervous system and spinal health.
Misalignments within the spine, especially in the upper cervical region (C1 and C2), can disrupt the function of nerves that control blood pressure and heart rate. This, in turn, results in a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, triggering syncope. Further, misaligned vertebrates in the neck might pinch or compress nearby blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
Chiropractors perform spinal adjustments to correct misalignment within the spine and help relieve pressure on nearby nerves and blood vessels. This helps improve nerve signalling and enhances oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain. As a result, the ability of your nervous system to regulate cardiovascular response improves, thus leading to fewer fainting spells.
Furthermore, chiropractic treatments also include massage therapy to ease muscle tension and exercises to strengthen your cardiovascular system. Your chiropractor may also offer guidance on managing stress and triggers and improving posture, all of which can help stabilize your blood pressure and reduce the chance of fainting.
At Vitality Chiropractic Center in Singapore, our experts specialize in Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. By precise and gentle adjustments, we aim to restore spine alignment, improve nerve function, and promote overall well-being. Our team provides personalized treatment tailored to your needs. So what are you waiting for? Contact us right now to restore your balance!
References
- Grossman, S. A., & Badireddy, M. (2025, June 22). Syncope. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442006/
- Mizrachi, E. M., & Sitammagari, K. K. (2023, April 10). Cardiac syncope. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526027/
Call 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com today!
Meet Our Chiropractor Specializing in Syncope Care in Singapore
Dr Shaan (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from London (UK) who graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). He has completed post-graduate studies and has been serving patients in Singapore since 2015.
He founded Vitality Chiropractic Centres to open the first Upper Cervical clinic in Singapore, and the only practicing Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique in South East Asia.
He is the Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) Chairman for Outreach, organising events within Singapore with the People’s Association and other charities. Shaan has served thousands of patients, with experience in patients with headaches, migraines, vertigo, Meniere’s, trigeminal neuralgia, whiplash, IBS and other chronic nervous system problems.
Dr Jessey (黄钰心矫正师) (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), graduated from Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). She has experience serving patients from 2 weeks old to 96 years old prior to moving to Singapore and joining Vitality Chiropractic (活力脊椎矫正中心).
She has completed post-graduate studies and is Singapore’s first female Upper Cervical Chiropractor (上颈椎矫正护理).
Jessey is active in outreach, participating in charitable trips to Cambodia and within Singapore. Jessey has experience helping patients with headaches, migraines, dizziness (眩晕/头晕), Meniere’s (美尼尔氏综合症), slipped disc, anxiety, fibrillations, IBS and other chronic nerve system problems. She also has a special interest in children and younger patients.
If you’ve been struggling with Syncope in Singapore, call 8438 9550, email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com or fill in your information below to book your appointment.
Chiropractic Care for Syncope – Treatment Rates in Singapore
Here are the expected rates for Syncope in Singapore at Vitality Chiropractic centres.
Discovery Call
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Jump on a call to discuss your concerns and determine if we are the right fit for you.
Consultation
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During the initial consultation, we will run a physical examination, postural assessment, and nerve system test.
Test Results
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Our chiropractor will explain the findings and test results from the consultation. A customised care plan will then be developed for you.
Single Session
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We will perform a nerve scan and adjustment as needed. Re-examinations and rehab exercises might be implemented.
Written by
Shaan Rai (Chiropractor, Singapore)
Shaan is a British Chiropractor, based in Singapore. He is an Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC (UK), attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. He is the Vice President and Chairman for Outreach & Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) and is the founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore. He developed the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab, with published research coming in 2025.
Dizziness Research in Singapore
Read our case report about our patient with dizziness and hearing loss, and the improvements seen with our care. This was produced by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, and published in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal.
Read Our Book
Shaan authored the book, ‘Dealing With Dizziness – Holistic Solutions For Unexplained Chronic Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Problems’.
You can find it on Amazon, or available in our Singapore Chiropractic clinic.
FAQS
Chiropractors are trained doctors of Chiropractic. They train exclusively as doctors of Chiropractic, not as medical doctors or dentists.
This is the same as how a Dentist, TCM or PhD graduate are trained as doctors in their field, but are also not medical doctors.
If you have any previous scans, x-rays, MRI’s or other imaging, please bring them to your appointment. We would also recommend bringing a family member or friend if you need support or to discuss finances.
Your initial Consultation will take approximately 1 hour, your Results will take approximately 45 minutes and follow up Appointments will take 20-35 minutes depending on your case.
After Chiropractic adjustments there can occasionally be side effects. The most common feelings after corrections (especially in the beginning) are:
- No changes yet
- Some stiffness in the muscles or light soreness
- Feeling relief
If there are any other symptoms or sensations experienced, please ensure to consult with your Chiropractor.
Absolutely! If you book using our online system you should get an email immediately then a WhatsApp confirmation from our staff.
For follow up appointments you should receive an email 48 hours before your appointment. If you do not, and you would like reminders, please let us know and we will be able to help. If you receive reminders but do not want to, you can also opt out of these emeails.
On any day you receive an adjustment we would advise taking it easy and drinking plenty of water. Give it at least 2 hours before exercising. If you feel tired then listen to your body and get to sleep early. Upon starting care, we will share a guide for you to take home, with a long list of do’s and don’ts, so you can take an active part in your care.
We recommend wearing something comfortable that you can bend in. While you don’t need to wear gym clothes, clothes which you can move in freely will be helpful for any tests or techniques the doctor will need to perform. For women, if you are wearing a dress or skirt we will provide blankets to cover you.
Chiropractic, and any health approach, will not be the answer for every patient and every health concern. Other Chiropractors may use different techniques and methods which may not produce the same results as Upper Cervical Chiropractic.
Our Chiropractors conduct a thorough history, physical assessment, nerve scans and biomechanical x-rays to determine if this is a case they can help.
If we are not the right fit for you, we will do our best to find the right practitioner for you.
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