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Avatar universal

laughing makes me faint

Sounds weird, but often when I laugh I can feel myself losing consciousness, and have to stop myself from laughing before I black out. It's almost as if there's sudden rush of blood to my head. My blood pressure is in normal range. I've put on quite a bit of weight recently and wonder if that has something to do with it. I also get ringing in my ears all the time - have had that for years. Getting a bit worried about the laughing thing though. Any thoughts?
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Avatar universal
Hi all

I too have what most of you are talking about. My doctor told me it was a syncope episode. Read here and see if this applies to you it is a perfect explanation of what happens to me both during laughing and coughing. .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncope_%28medicine%29

Best,
Mike
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing.  When I hear something really funny I already know what's going to happen.  While laughing my breathing gets low and I know I must lean on something or else I will fall flat on the floor. I feel like I'm blacking and on the outside I look like I went unconscious but inside I am continuously laughing hard thinking about the joke or what have you and my breathing gets lower and lower I have to try, almost fight to breath in air then I can feel my consciousness and muscle control return.  
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Avatar universal
Please research cataplexy - it's a symptom of narcolepsy in which an individual losses their muscle tone most commonly with laughter (or other emotions like annoyance, surprise, happiness, etc). The loss of muscle tone may result in a slight buckling of the knees, jaw drooping, loss of grip in hand, neck dipping, or eyes fluttering. At it's worst, cataplexy attacks can make an individual collapse to the ground unable to move a muscle of one's body, but still conscious of one's surroundings - hearing everything around them and aware of their position. Hope this helps!
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Why is narcolepsy so misunderstood? was started.
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Avatar universal
My daughter is 14 and has been healthy.  She is an athlete with barely any body fat.  We thought she was low iron.  She almost passes out when she laughs.  Gave the symptoms to our PA and she sent us to a cardiologist.  After EKG and blood tests doctor says she has pre syncope.  It does have something to do with vagas nerve but she might outgrow it.  He said in growing persons sometimes the inside workings need time to catch up.  We are watching.  She did go through a growth spurt in height. He also said that he has seen this fainting/almost fainting with sneezing, coughing and strenuous bowel movements.  It is more common than we realized.  It has so far had no effect on her running.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Fainting while laughing was started.
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Avatar universal
I too have had 3-4 episodes of laugh syncope over the last year.  I have never had these episodes prior.  Over the last 3 1/2 - 6 years I have had many surgeries and I too have been told by 3 different cardiologist my heart is fine, my BP is normal.  Even had a cath done if some of you know what that is.  I too am overweight by about 50 lbs. I am diabetic but that is since I have gained the weight.
My first episode everything just went all gray and then I was ok. The worst episode occured in February 2012.  My mother and I were driving getting on a on ramp IN LAS VEGAS we were searching for a location and we were joking around about loosing our way around and I started laughing, well luckily I felt it coming on and stopped laughing so I didn't pass out. My mother does not drive so the entire situation could have ended badly.  This scared me something aweful as we had recently lost my father just the week before from CHF (Congestive Heart Failure).
I have been to neurologist before just told I have white matter 12 + areas and not to worry, been to the cardiologist and again told don't worry.
back in 2006 I had a spinal tap done and in 2009 I had a injection in my spine for surgery I had then. I wonder if the CSF if possible. Then again I have a bad neck. I often have pain in my carotid artery on my right side.  Not sure if any of these things are connected but I thank you all for your input as it helps me to know I am not alone with this condition.
I too am currently unemployed and uninsured. I guess state aid will be my next step if this persist.  
Good luck to you all in your quest for a diagnosis.
Addagrl
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Avatar universal
I'll add myself to the list.  59, male, only about 15 pounds overweight, normal BP.  Fainted once while laughing, fell backwards and broke the sink cabinet door.  When describing it to friends, thought of original laugh stimulus, laughed and it happened again.  2 months ago, choked on water at that same kitchen sink, passed out for milliseconds, fell back onto kitchen island and compression fractured a vertebra.  Highly inconvenient.  At present am very careful to control laughter if I hear something funny on car radio.  Occasionally see stars pushing on a bowel movement.  I kind of like the other-wordly feeling, but don't relish the loss of control and falling.  Like tinnitis, which I've had since the 70s (Rock and Roll!) there's probably not much that can be done, other than to be aware and catch yourself in time to think of something unfunny, or pull onto the shoulder.  Best of luck to all and I'll check back for any suggestions.
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Avatar universal
Am glad to have found this site.  Thanks to all for sharing.  After reading all these comments I, too, researched about laugh syncope, and at least have a basic understanding of what it is.  In my case it's about my husband, and to add his situation to this compilation seems appropriate:

57 years old; some exercise, including adult soccer league, but not every day; no high blood pressure; on meds for high cholesterol; moderately obese (That does seem to be a common factor!); fairly healthy otherwise;  never drinks or smokes (tho, for the poster who asked about it, does drink a few cups of very bold coffee each day).  
Has only the condition of fainting while laughing heartily.  Happened for the first time two years ago when laughing very hard and fell out of a kitchen chair to the floor and was unconscious for about 10 seconds, then was fine, tho subdued.    
No other incidents until this week when he fainted while in a recliner from laughing too hard at an episode of Big Bang Theory. (There is a  recorded case of laugh syncope from watching Seinfeld!)  Didn't fall and also awoke in about 10 seconds.  Felt ok.  Two days later, again watching that dangerously funny show, his loud laughter faded and his head drooped and he muttered a few syllables, then got quiet.  When I asked if he had fainted, he said,  Almost.  I witnessed the above three episodes, but then today I did not see him, but he reported he was walking in the kitchen while laughing at something and felt light-headed, but didn't faint, though almost.  
As you all know, very disconcerting!

I want to add my observation that I think he laughs inwardly too much (don't know quite how to explain it).  He scrunches up and keeps his chin down; I'd like him to try laughing more out loud, with his mouth open wide. Of course, don't know if that would help, but I wish he'd try, especially since what I read indicated that stopping the cause of syncope is a valid solution.  I know that's akin to the insensitive, bad joke advice of Don't laugh, but in lieu of other solutions, trying to laugh a little less hard or differently seems worth a shot.  One source also suggested tightening one's arm and/or leg muscles if one has time when feeling the faintness coming on, presumably to increase blood pressure and get more blood to the brain fast.

I will also get him to talk to our doctor to check for any possible heart problems, etc.  I was encouraged when I read that "Brief periods of unconsciousness do no harm and are seldom symptoms of disease. The main danger of fainting fits or vasovagal syncope (or dizzy spells from vertigo) is the risk of injury by falling while unconscious." Or, as some have noted, from driving.

Of course, possible medical problems as the cause need to be followed up, but, unfortunately, it was also noted that doctors have a great deal of difficulty determining causes in many cases.  Weird how few are documented cases (five!?!) when we have more examples even here!

Best wishes to each of you as you seek solutions for your health.
  
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Avatar universal
I have fainted 4 times in my life while laughing, I have stopped myself many times also.

I just wanted to say thanks to the people who have posted, I too thought it was just a quirk of mine, I will be popping along to the GP now and get some tests done.
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1998581 tn?1327305328
I am 51 & 13 years ago sufferd 2 big strokes,which have left me paralyzed down my left side,I started this same thing after having my strokes & hate it,I decided to ask the doctor to be referred to a specialist for tests.iv had a camera down my throat, which showed I had a Sliding Haertus Hernia,I was then sent to the Cardiolagy where i was given a Heart Monitor to wear for 24 hours,this was to record my Heart rate and to see what happend to my heart rate when passing out with laughter,after this, I had a Tilt Table Test,I had to stand in a standing posistuion for 40 minutes and my Heart rate and Blood Preasure was monitored, I did pass out on this test,Cardology have now diognosed me with Laughter Syncope. I feel there is know treatment for this, so since my two strokes, I carnt Drink,Smoke and now carnt Laugh:( FED UP!,hope you have better luck then me,Jean
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Avatar universal
I was hit in the back by a forklift 11 years ago in Sept. When I took my ex to the Veteran's hospital I was waiting in the ER room and they had this poster on the wall about the signs of a spinal cord injury. One of them was chest pains. This scared me because my chest hurt all that day and night after the accident. I haven't been able to get any 'specialist' to think this was significant, so I dismissed it. Then I started having chest pains and was put in the hospital overnight and my dr ordered an angiogram. My heart was deemed to be good. Then a few years later I again had chest pains that went into my left arm, up my neck on the left side, and I decided to go in the ER again when I realized it was my carotid artery. I was kept overnight again and set up for a stress test and again deemed to be just fine. Now, I'm sure you are wondering if it's my back. I am too, but the reason for this posting is because, as of a few days ago, I now am feeling faint when laughing and my chest feels 'tight' as well. I check my blood pressure all the time, and have always been in the normal range (120/80 most of my life). I just don't know what to think. I don't have any insurance and am unemployed, and I just don't know where to turn since I've been told my heart isn't the problem. I'm mostly concerned it's my spinal cord and will wake up paralyzed one day.

Anyway, just wanted to add my problems to the list.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your comments.  You are the first one here to actually come up with a diagnosis that makes sense.  I have suffered all my 59 years with vasovegal syncope, so it would make sense that laugh syncope would be a related issue as well.  I've researched further on the internet and came up with good information that I've printed out and, as luck would have it, I have a cardiology appt this afternoon.  I will be presenting this documentation to my doctor with specific instructions for him to read and do whatever testing he needs to do on me to diagnose me with this laugh syncope.  If, in fact, that is what I have, then I want to be added to the list of "rare" cases across the country.  In addition, I will request that he bring this information to his next meeting of cardiologists so that they can become educated as well.

Again, thank you for this info.  I finally feel validated.
Helpful - 0
1930123 tn?1323172433
Hey guys, I'm really glad I found this site!  I thought I was going crazy!!  I have the lightheadedness when laughing but haven't actually blacked out yet.  

I love to laugh and laugh a lot but I am afraid of laughing behind the wheel just in case.  I certainly do not have any sort of vascular disease which laugh syncope is related to, have been a stable weight for over a year and suddenly, 3 months ago, it all started and I'm not the same person now - I'm more grumpy and irritable.  

I saw a case study of laugh syncope in which it said only 5 cases of this have ever been documented, we ALL need to go the the doctors and get properly diagnosed - if it is laugh syncope that we all have, the more people that come forward, the more reconised it will be and more research will be put into it.  I bet there are many, many more people out there like us who haven't come forward.

Lets put Laugh Syncope on the map!!
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Avatar universal
Oh my gosh I thought I was crazy!!! I have lightheadedness when I laugh, I have ringing in my ears harp pain through my brain sometimes and every now and then when I stand after sitting I see black everything is black bit I can still hear everything and sometimes I feel sick like nauseas anyone help?
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Avatar universal
you know I have been looking for some thing like this for along time its random that for once I found it and I wasen't looking that hard.any ways I am 25 and I have had this alot.. I also have had ear pains and fluid in my ear no ringing tho I seem to have low blood pressure and when I get shots or blood drawn also get light headed. I have to stop myself from laughing. The latest episode was a simple walk home from the store with my friend. he said some thing funny and i started laughing very little and it was a instant omg i am light headed i need to stop and stand still until it passes type thing.. glad I am not the only one who has this prob tho
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Avatar universal
Wow I'm so weird all has same issue without any solution... This is so weird... I had mention to my doctor many time and he not sure how and why this happend.. He just mention just control my self...
I just like to bring everyone notice is be careful when you DRIVING Once it's happend when I was driving and I was very lucky and safe nothing happend and now I'm always extra careful and controll my laugh. Just be safe then sorry.
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Avatar universal
I'm a 23 year old male, I don't have high blood pressure, but I'm afraid to laugh in general, when I laugh I get sharp splitting headaches where my natural reaction is to hold and squeeze my head, I also get light headed and dis orientated when I laugh, it is extremely painful please can anyone help me. With answers?
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Avatar universal
I'm a 23 year old male, I don't have high blood pressure, but I'm afraid to laugh in general, when I laugh I get sharp splitting headaches where my natural reaction is to hold and squeeze my head, I also get light headed and dis orientated when I laugh, it is extremely painful please can anyone help me. With answers?
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Avatar universal
Same as others, laughing causes a few micro sec loss of conscious, never to the point of falling down, and however can more often reproduce effects when combining laughing when standing. Noticing a pattern with some of the comments of others and myself, long bouts of sneezing. I never had a fainting feeling from sneezing, just an unusual presentation a few seem to be experiencing.
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1811615 tn?1316547856
I go see my doctor on friday this been happening to me alot i'm 27 years old.when i laugh hard or stand up i feel like i'm about to faint i want to the ER and they did blood and a scan of my brain and say it was fine but made me make a appt with the cardiologist to see about my heart thank you for letting us know i will copy what you wrote and bring it to him
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1773054 tn?1314153551
For the last two years I have gotten dizzy when I Laugh. I have to grab onto something and stop laughing. I haven't blacked out all the way yet. I also have discovered that when I sneeze, I have bouts where I sneeze up to 20 times. If I look into bright light it makes me sneeze. I have three vertebra fused in my neck. I wonder if scar tissue is pressing on my vega nerve?
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Avatar universal
I am so glad to read all the info posted here.  I have a 13 yr old son who has been experiencing dizziness, and weakness in the knees to the point of collapsing, when he laughs.  He has hit his head a couple of times when collapsing.  Now he's getting so frustrated with it he'll start to cry while it's happening, knowing he can't control it.  He's worried to go back to school this August. You can't tell someone to "not laugh".  It's a God given emotion.  We'll be getting this checked out soon.  Thanks everyone for the info.
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Avatar universal
I too have the same problem. I feel headache while laughing, particularly in the top back side of head. If anyone have more information, please post.
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