Usually, lying flat is all that's needed for a person to regain consciousness. Raising the legs can speed up recovery by increasing blood flow to the heart and brain. If the person sits up too rapidly or is propped up or carried in an upright position, another fainting episode may occur. In young people who don't have heart disease, fainting usually isn't serious, and extensive diagnostic investigations and treatment rarely are necessary. 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.