To recover after fainting due to anemia, a person should take deep, slow breaths, drink fluids, eat a small, salty snack, and avoid standing too quickly.

Anemia occurs when the body cannot produce as many red blood cells as usual due to a lack of iron. Because of this, less oxygen can circulate to areas of the body, including the brain. This may cause a person to faint.

People should contact a doctor if they faint to rule out potentially serious underlying causes. If the cause of fainting is anemia, treatment for the condition may help prevent further fainting episodes.

People should also seek medical attention if they injure themselves when fainting.

This article explains how doctors may treat fainting from anemia, tips to recover from fainting, and what to do if someone with anemia faints.

A person who may have anemia who is lying on their back on a bed with their feet on the wall after fainting.-2Share on Pinterest
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Fainting, also called syncope, can be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of the condition.

While it is not usually a medical emergency, a person should contact a doctor if they faint.

A doctor may perform tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), to rule out other potential underlying causes of fainting, such as heart disease.

If the doctor determines iron deficiency anemia to be the cause of the fainting, they may treat the anemia to prevent symptoms, including fainting. Treatment can include:

  • Iron supplements: Iron supplements are the most common treatment for iron deficiency anemia. A person can take the supplements orally, and they will usually restore iron levels within 3 to 6 months. A person can also increase iron through their diet.
  • Intravenous (IV) iron: A doctor may administer iron through an IV to help restore iron levels in the blood rapidly.
  • Medication: A doctor may prescribe medication, depending on the cause of a person’s anemia. If a person’s bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells, medications, such as erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs), may help stimulate production.
  • Surgery: If a person has anemia due to blood loss, they may require surgery to stop internal bleeding.
  • Blood transfusion: Someone with severe anemia may require a blood transfusion. This involves doctors transferring blood to a person from a donor to rapidly increase red blood cell levels.

People should speak with a doctor before taking any dietary supplements.

A person may feel lightheaded or confused for a short while after fainting. A person does not typically require emergency treatment after fainting unless they have sustained an injury from the fall.

Tips to recover after fainting may include the following.

  • lying down with the legs slightly elevated
  • avoiding sitting up or standing too quickly
  • taking slow, deep breaths
  • opening a window to increase airflow
  • loosening tight collars or other items of clothing
  • drinking fluids with electrolytes or eating a salty snack

If a person sustains a severe injury from falling during a faint, they should remain still and call 911 or ask someone to call emergency medical services for them.

Fainting is not a common symptom of anemia and typically occurs in people with severe forms of the condition.

Fainting occurs when there is a decrease in blood flow to the brain. In someone with iron deficiency anemia, this may happen when the body does not have enough iron to produce as many red blood cells as usual.

Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. When someone does not have enough red blood cells, less oxygen can reach their organs, including the brain. A decrease in oxygen to the brain can cause a person to faint.

Besides anemia, there are several potential causes of fainting, including:

  • exhaustion
  • prolonged standing
  • hot environments
  • severe pain
  • intense stress or fatigue
  • obstruction of blood flow
  • tachycardia, a high resting heart rate
  • bradycardia, a slow resting heart rate
  • abnormal heart rhythm, which may or may not be associated with heart rate changes

A person can prevent fainting by treating their anemia according to a doctor’s instructions. This may include:

  • taking iron supplements
  • receiving IV iron infusions
  • eating a diet rich in iron
  • taking prescribed medication

If a person feels as if they might faint, they may be able to prevent fainting by:

  • lying down with their legs raised
  • sitting down and placing their head between their knees
  • taking slow, deep breaths
  • drinking water
  • eating something salty

If someone faints, a person can help them by:

  • laying them on their back and raising their legs
  • laying them on their side if they are more than 28 weeks pregnant
  • opening a window to increase fresh air
  • checking for injuries
  • preventing them from sitting up too quickly

A person should call 911 if someone faints and they:

  • sustain an injury while falling
  • are unresponsive for more than 1 minute
  • are not breathing
  • have not recovered fully and have difficulty moving or speaking
  • are jerking or shaking due to a seizure
  • have chest pain or heart palpitations
  • fainted while lying down
  • fainted while exercising

Fainting is not usually a medical emergency. It may occur due to severe anemia, but it is not a common symptom of the condition.

A doctor may treat fainting from anemia by treating the underlying condition. This often involves iron supplements and can include medication, a blood transfusion, and surgery, depending on the cause of a person’s anemia.

A person will not typically require emergency medical treatment after fainting unless they sustain an injury from falling. If someone faints, they should contact a doctor to rule out potentially severe underlying causes.