People of any age can faint, but the elderly more often have a serious underlying cause. The biggest risk is in people with heart disease, especially those with congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease. In this abnormal circulatory reflex, the heart pumps more forcefully, the blood vessels relax, but the heart rate either decreases or increases inadequately to maintain blood flow. Causes of situational syncope Cough syncope occurs in those with lung disease when coughing forcefully. Swallow syncope occurs when some people with disease in the throat or esophagus swallow.
Micturition syncope occurs when a susceptible person empties an overfilled bladder.
It is most common in alcohol-intoxicated males. Carotid sinus hypersensitivity occurs in some elderly people when turning the neck, shaving, or wearing a tight collar. Postprandial fainting can occur in the elderly when their blood pressure falls about an hour after eating. Some people do well when lying down, but the brain's blood flow decreases when they stand due to a drop in blood pressure. This type of fainting results from either or both of the following causes.