How can I avoid fainting?

I have always had low blood pressure and been prone to fainting. I have been checked at the hospital after passing out a few times but the frequency has increased over the past six months and it now happens every few weeks but as I know the signs I usually manage to avoid it. Today I was working and interviewing someone at a hospital where it was rather warm I had had plenty to eat and drink. I was wearing a face mask (to avoid giving germs as it was the leukemia ward) but came over giddy and had to be helped to sit down. I had been standing up for about an hour. The nurse checked me and said my BP was very low and gave me a coffee and told me not to worry. Last month I fainted on a metro train. I eat very healthily and exercise regularly. It is impossible to avoid situations when it is too warm or where I have to stand. How can I avoid these embarrassing situations? (I am 28, female, normal periods, healthy weight)

Factors that influence fainting are taking in too little food and fluids, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, growth spurts, physical exercise in excess of the energy reserve of the body, emotional distress, and lack of sleep. Even standing up too quickly or being in too hot a room can cause fainting. Recommended treatment is to allow the person to lie on the ground with his or her legs slightly elevated. As the dizziness and the momentary blindness passes, the person may experience visual disturbances in the form of small bright dots (phosphene). These will also pass within a few minutes. If fainting happens frequently, or if there is no obvious explanation, it is important to see a doctor about it.

eat well go docs

You need to speak to your doctor about this. You really should not rely on answers from Yahoo Answers on your health. The last thing you need right now is the wrong advice if you are prone to fainting.

You need to be diagnosed by a doctor .There is a condition called Postural Hypotension. This can be controlled with medication. This is when your blood pressure fails to rise quick enough as you change positions etc.

It sounds to me like you need a complete physical.There is a method that does help,if you can do it.If you feel the sensation of fainting,light headed etc.,put your head between your knees;while sitting of course.If this fails,try cold compresses,even a cold wash cloth with an ice cube,make sure the cloth is wet.

Don't make your muscles, knees, or elbows tense. This may cut off blood flow to specific areas.

do you stand with your knees "locked". my husband was taught (in the military) never to stand at attention with your knees locked. it interferes with circulation and can cause you to faint.Fainting

Fainting is a falling down and the loss of consciousness that occurs for a brief interval, typically less than one minute. Not enough blood reaching the brain usually causes an episode of fainting. The most common reasons for fainting in adolescents are standing in one position for a long time with the knees locked, a sudden stress such as having blood drawn or receiving a vaccination, standing up suddenly especially after resting in bed and severe pain.

When a teen stands in one position for a long time, blood collects in the lower part of the body, especially the legs. As a result, there is less blood in the upper part of the body including the brain. A vascular reflex where the walls of the blood vessels relax and blood collects in the enlarged vessels contributes to a fainting episode. A vascular reflex can also be caused by emotional upsets and crowded hot surroundings. Vigorous exercise and resultant dehydration may contribute to lower blood pressure and could also cause a fainting episode.

Firstly I am not a doctor & this is not a professional 'diagnosis' but sometimes a lack of iron can cause you to feel light headed or faint

I have a similar history of low blood pressure and passing out. Mine is mostly triggered by the sight of blood but also but overheating and standing.
I know this sounds weird , but do you drink alot of soft drinks like cokes? One time a doctor told me that all the sugar in cokes made fainting worse so I stopped drinking them and switched to diet cokes. Then I passed out more often and another doctor told me that the sweetner in diet drinks called phenalaline (something like that) can trigger fainting. So I quit drinking any kind of regular or diet soft drinks. Now my fainting is better. I would recommend you trying quitting all regular and diet soft drinks. It can't hurt you and it might help you. Good luck and god bless.

sounds like overwork and stress. Here in Alaska we allow paid leave with a doctors note.See your doctor. You need rest.

Try keeping glucose tablets with you and have some if you feel ill. youre not alone. x