However, in older people, fainting may result from several interrelated problems that prevent the heart and blood vessels from adjusting appropriately to a decrease in blood pressure. Treatment depends on the cause. A heartbeat that's too slow can be corrected by surgically implanting a pacemaker, an electronic device that stimulates heartbeats. Drug therapy can be used to slow a heart rate that's too rapid. A defibrillator can be implanted to jolt the heart back into the normal rhythm if the heart beats irregularly from time to time.
Surgery is considered for problems with heart valves, regardless of the person's age.
Orthostatic Hypotension Orthostatic hypotension is an excessive decrease in blood pressure when a person stands up, resulting in reduced blood flow to the brain and fainting. Orthostatic hypotension isn't a specific disease but an inability to regulate blood pressure quickly. It has many causes. When a person stands up suddenly, gravity causes some blood to pool in the veins of the legs and lower body. The pooling slightly reduces the amount of blood that returns to the heart and the amount of blood pumped by the heart.