Fainting means losing consciousness, becoming unresponsive, and having slack muscles. Before a person faints, they might feel dizzy or hear a “buzzing” in their ears. After a few minutes, people generally recover on their own. 

Injuries occur in about one-third of people who faint.

How Common is Fainting?

Older adults are much more likely to faint than younger adults. Fainting happens twice as often in adults age 70 and older, and up to four times as often in adults age 80 and older. 

Fainting is responsible for up to 3 percent of emergency room visits and up to 6 percent of hospital admissions each year.

Last Updated December 2022