Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-20
Fainting Spell
Due to Varied
Conditions
May Occur OftehEnoueF
to Become Worry
BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING

BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING
PAINTING, or syncope, may
L occur sufficiently often to
some people TO constitute a real
disability and source of worry.
These spells usually do not
mean anything serious at all, but
in all circumstances they require
some investigation and at least,
definition.
The words, rfainting spell" are
often used as an euphemistic
expression for people who have
mild attacks Of epilepsy or
periods of Inconsistencies In the
early stage of brain tumor and
cerebral arteriosclerosis.
A real fainting spell is fairly
simple thing to understand.
We know when a patient
faints that the blood leaves the
brain entirely, the blood pressure
falls very low and the heart
stands entirely still for a while.
This may be brought on by
fatigue or emotion, a too-long
period without food or at the
beginning Of a mild illness.
VERTIGO, or dizziness, and
fainting spells aften 60 to-
gether. When these occur either
alone or together in young peo-
pie, I think it is a sufficient
serious symptom to call for a
careful examination.
In people over so they are so
common as to be of little sig
nificance. ar at least can usually
be adjusted by a few days rest
in bed and cutting down Of
activity.
Women after the age OF so
who are undergoing the climac-
teric change often are bothered
with attacks of vertigo and
fainting.
They must be assured that
this is common and natural and
will pass. and simply means that
nature is telling them not to
overdo and not to strain their
vital reserves.
In many people over the age
Of so both vertigo and syncope,
in most cases. mean nothing
more than a lack of elasticity
of the arteries Of the brain,
which does not allow them to
respond as rapidly TO sudden
changes OF position. to sudden
exertion and especially to sud-
den emotions.
Both in men and women the
ear may be at fault and treat
ment directed at that source is
indicated.
IN WOMEN especially, but also
l. in men. the use of substitu-
ton drugs which are used dur
ing the menopause are very
valuable.
But the most important thing
OF all is rest and relaxation.
This is especially important in
wartime.
1t is my experience that the
young have a pretty good time
during wars and rather enjoy
them, but the old feel out of it
and take ii out in explosions Of
nervous energy which do nobody
any good but do the individual
a lot of harm.
I am going to discuss this fur
Their tomorrow, so we will let
the subject drop in that way.
There are, of course, few
serious causes of vertigo and
syncope and fainting spells and
allied conditions, even in the old,
but none Of these is beyond the
means of any average doctor 10
treat and 1 am sure that, after
an examination which is neither
expensive nor elaborate, yet
will feel very much better about
set Of symptoms which may be
the cause of some perturbation.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS
A. B.: Please tell me what is
shingles. the cause, the remedy,
and the length.
Answer: Shingles Is very
painful eruption of the skin
which breaks out over the area
OF the distribution of a nerve.
1t is probably an infectious
disease which localizes in the
sensory ganglia of the nerve
and causes hemorrhages there.
The fact that il affects the
sensory part of the nerve is
what makes it so painful.
The course of the disease may
be divided into three stages:
First. several days of pain with
out eruption: second, the skin
eruption which appears in
the form OF hard blisters with
intense infiammatory reaction
around the point; and the con-
valescent period. during which
the skin heals up.
The whole course of the dis
ease usually lasts about three
weeks.
The best treatment is to use
the X-ray over the area of the
affected ganglia.
Another treatment is the use
Of small doses Of diphtheria anti
toxin. Why this latter works is
not known.
II. w. Is ii considered too
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