Syncope Due To Low Blood Pressure -
Obstruction to blood flow from the heart.

There are a number of conditions that can cause obstruction to the blood leaving the heart. These conditions can be associated with low blood pressure symptoms, especially during exercise.
They are serious conditions that require specialist cardiac management and may require heart surgery.

Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
This condition causes thickening of the heart muscle, narrowing the passage that blood flows through as it leaves the heart.

People with this condition can have syncope due to low blood pressure. They can also develop serious abnormal heart rhythms.

This condition is diagnosed by examination, an ECG and  an Echocadiogram (heart ultrasound) and needs specialist cardiac management.

More information on Hypertrophic Cardiopathy can be found at www.4hcm.org

Aortic Stenosis
In this condition, the aortic valve in the heart becomes narrowed reducing bloodflow out of the heart.. It is more common in older people, but can occur in younger patients who were born with an abnormal aortic valve.

If the narrowing of the valve is so severe to cause syncope, then the valve needs to be replaced surgically.

It is a serious condition if it results in syncope.

It is diagnosed by examination and Echo and requires specialist cardiac management.

Sub-aortic stenosis
This is a rare condition due to a band, membrane, ridge or ring under the aortic valve that blocks the passage of bloodout of the heart.

It is a serious condition if it results in syncope.

It is diagnosed by examination and Echo and requires specialist cardiac management.

Pulmonary Embolus
This is a condition where a clot of blood blocks the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs.
The clot most commonly forms in the legs after a period of inactivity or long distance travel. The clot breaks off and passes through the blood vessels to the heart, and lodges in the lungs.

The most common symptoms of this condition are shortness of breath and chest pain but if the clot is large it can cause low blood pressure and therefore syncope.
This is a life threatening condition if it results in syncope. Emergency medical attention is required

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