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Medicine vocabulary · Symptoms and Signs

Syncope

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈsɪŋkəpi/nounAdvanced term

In medicine, syncope means: A brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary drop in blood flow to the brain, followed by full recovery within a short time.

In Turkish: senkop, bayılma

How it is used

The medical word for fainting. Doctors ask what happened before (standing, pain, exercise, palpitations), during and after, and look for cardiac causes. Common types are vasovagal and orthostatic syncope. Patients say 'I passed out' or 'I blacked out'.

Example sentences

  1. He had an episode of syncope while standing in a long queue on a hot day.

  2. Syncope during exercise is a red flag for a heart problem.

Common collocations

  • vasovagal syncope
  • episode of syncope
  • exertional syncope
  • unexplained syncope
  • dizzinessA vague feeling of being unsteady, light-headed or as if the room is moving; patients use the word for several different sensations.
  • ECGShort for electrocardiogram: a test that records the heart's electrical activity using small sticky pads placed on the chest, arms and legs.
  • seizureA sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause shaking, stiffness, staring or loss of consciousness.
  • palpitationsAn unpleasant awareness of your own heartbeat, which may feel fast, strong, irregular or as if it is skipping beats.
  • red flagA symptom or sign that suggests a serious cause, such as cancer or a spinal problem, and needs urgent attention or tests.

More terms: Symptoms and Signs

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.