Information for the public
Blackouts
Blackouts
Blackouts are very common, affecting up to half of us at some point in our lives. The medical term for a blackout is 'transient loss of consciousness', and this is the term used throughout the guidance produced by NICE. There is a number of possible causes for a blackout, such as a reduced supply of blood to the brain caused by heart problems, conditions related to the brain and nervous system (such as epilepsy), emotional factors, or simply because you stand up for too long. Because of this, healthcare professionals may offer you a number of tests to find out what caused your blackout.