Fainting Spells At Work Increase Risk of Job Loss by Two-Fold

Fainting or syncope is a condition in which there is a temporary reduction in the blood flow reaching the brain. People who have fainting spells, especially at work, are at an increased risk of occupational accidents and could even lose their job. This Danish study was published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular quality and outcomes. Syncope can result in a sudden loss of consciousness in the individual; however, it is followed by spontaneous recovery. The study took into account people within the ages of 18 and 64 and who complained of recurrent syncope, and compared them with people who did not have the condition.

The study findings showed that

• There was an increase in the risk of occupational accidents by 1.4 fold.
• There was an increased risk of job loss by 2 fold.
• 31% of people with syncope lost their jobs compared to 15% in the control group.
• Risk of accidents at work and job loss were more pronounced among people who were young, had poor socioeconomic status, had depression or cardiovascular disease along with recurrent syncope.

This study was the first to analyze the association between syncope and conditions at work, highlighting the need to address the condition. A research fellow at Copenhagen University’s cardiology department, Dr. Anna-Karin Nume, who is the first author of the study said that the study helped in shedding light on a hidden consequence of syncope that had never been associated or studied before.

An individual who is employed needs to feel secure with the job and should be able to maintain a full time employment. Insecurity at the workplace due to syncope can however be stressful and cannot be measured in terms of mortality and hospitalization. An employment not only helps the individual gain monetary compensation in the form of a regular salary but can also help in improving self-esteem, which reflects on the quality of life led by the individual.

Studying Syncope and Its Effect on Employment:

The data for the study was obtained from Denmark’s population based National registers, with the median age of the participants being 48 and 49.7% of them being male. The research team selected 21,729 patients who needed to be hospitalized or required emergency care after a first time diagnosis of syncope.

• 49.5% were employed at the time of the incident and returned to work within a month of being discharged.
• 622 patients had a subsequent accident at the workplace.
• 36 of the patients had severe injuries like a fracture, internal bleeding or a crush amputation.
• The accidents were more among patients who were involved in menial jobs.

The study was an association study as there was lack of information regarding the work environment of the individual, the reason behind syncope, the habits and the health of the individual. The study could be of relevance even in the Western countries; however, differences in policies, health and social security could affect results.

Dr. Nume stated that syncope can be managed effectively by including interventions appropriate for the condition. This will help in securing employment and will also aid in job selection whereby operating heavy equipment should be avoided. The scientists believe that this study could help in stimulating more research on why syncope leads to a loss in employment. There is an increased need to raise awareness about finding jobs that are less risky and which does not involve the use of heavy machinery for patients with syncope.

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What triggers Syncope?

There are certain triggers which cause the autonomous nervous system (ANS) that controls involuntary actions like heart rate and blood pressure, to malfunction.

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The various environmental triggers include:

• Coughing
• Heat exposure
• Unpleasant sight
• Heavy sweating
• Dehydration
• Emotional stress
• Overcrowding
• Sudden pain
• Laughing
• Sitting or standing suddenly or standing for long periods

This kind of syncope is also termed as neutrally mediated syncope or vasovagal syncope. When the ANS gets affected, there is a drop in blood pressure and a slowing or interruption of the heart beat for a few seconds; this inturn restricts blood flow and oxygen to the brain and the person loses consciousness temporarily.

What to do when someone Faints

In the event that a colleague faints at the workplace, here are a few tips to remember

• Place the individual on the floor. The legs should be raised up and the head should be lower than the rest of the body so that there is improvement in the blood circulation to the brain.
• Notice if the color of their face is back to being healthy or if it still looks pale.
• Loosen any clothing that could be restricting the flow of blood like a neck scarf or buttons.
• Remember not to crowd around the patient as there should be fresh air around the individual.
• Speak to the patient and watch out for signs of recovery.
• If there is no sign of recovery, call for medical help immediately.

Fainting is an unexpected incident in most cases and care should be taken to move the patient away from harm’s way as quickly as possible. Providing first aid at the earliest possible instance is also essential. Identifying the trigger will help lower incidences of fainting while improved awareness will help patients find secure jobs that will boost their confidence, help them financially and mainly prevent further accidents at workplaces.

References:

1. Martin H. Ruwald et al. Syncope and Its Impact on Occupational Accidents and Employment: A Danish Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, April 2017 DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.116.003202

Source-Medindia