laughing makes me faint

[mgh321]

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?

[scarlet37]

Do a search on narcolepsy - it might be a possibility.

   good luck

[Sunnieraez]

omg, I have the same thing.  It started with the ringing in the ears and now i am afraid to laugh and breath heavy for the same head rush feeling.  I doubt narcolepsy cause I don't fall asleep.  Narcolepsy is when you totally fall into a slumber.  I went to an ent and he said that i must grind my teeth at night for the ringing ( i have been told i do not grind) so I dunno what to make of it except maybe allergies cause i do feel better when i take allegra.  

[mgh321]

Sunnieraez you're the first person I've heard to also experience it - not that I go around asking people. heh.

The ear ringing I think may be tinnitus, and there's apparently not much that can be done about it, unfortunately. Sometimes it really gets to me. I've had the ringing in the ears for years, although it does seem to be gradually worsening over time. The laughing and going faint as a result is relatively new though - maybe the last few months or so?

I don't grind teeth, and definitely don't have narcolepsy - actually I don't see how narcolepsy is even related. I don't take any medications whatsoever - even avoid basic aspirin / tylenol unless I have a really bad headache ..don't drink or smoke either.  I like to laugh! this sucks :(

[mgh321]

Was hoping I would find an answer here. Thanks anyway.

[LaughALot55]

I felt the same thing tonight as I watched a funny movie. It happened to me a month ago as well. I started laughing real hard. It was a deep belly laugh. It then felt like I stopped breathing, pressure increased within my head, and then I felt like I was going to faint. Any ideas?

[wannio]

Same symptoms with me too.

I get light-headed when I laugh hard.

I have experienced the ringing in my ears every now and then since I was a child.  I heard on a TV commercial that it may be caused by high blood pressure.  I've always been a heavy person and had borderline high blood pressure, so I figured this was probably true.  I also get bloody noses when I eat too much sugar and salt, and alcoholic beverages.

I really don't know about narcolepsy, but I often feel like I don't get enough sleep and often catch myself nodding off while driving.

Anyone ever get a diagnosis on this light-headed condition?

[Fiona509]

Mgh321, I have exactly the same symptom as you.    When laughing, I sometimes feel so faint as to near unconsciousness.    I, like you, have to force myself to cut short the laugh so to avoid going under.    I just saw your old posting today.    Like you, I also have been putting on a little weight lately.    Were you ever able to find out what causes this?  

[pullipuli]

I get a pain in the back of my head if I laugh for some time. It reduces when I stop laughing, it will reach unbearable if I won’t stop.

[bedoubleyou]

There are documented cases of Laugh Syncope which is what you seem to be describing. It's been associated with vascular disease and its risk factors.  Laughing is similar to a valsalva maneuver where thoracic pressure is increased.  Syncope has been known to be precipitated by coughing, sneezing, or even blowing horns in some people.

[willubmyknight]

The reason for the mention of Narcolepsy is because one of the main "symptoms' or "effects" of Narcolepsy is called Cataplexy - which has a definition of: a sudden muscular weakness brought on by strong emotions, is a medical condition which may also affect narcoleptics. Often manifesting as muscular weaknesses ranging from a barely perceptible slackening of the facial muscles to the dropping of the jaw or head, weakness at the knees, or a total collapse. Usually only speech is slurred, vision is impaired (double vision, inability to focus), but hearing and awareness remain normal.

If your issues ONLY happen while LAUGHING, then, chances are it's something totally different, but if it happens EVERY time you have a strong emotion (mad, happy, excited, etc) then you may have Cataplexy.

That was a GREAT call by Scarlet37 - Narcolepsy & Cataplexy are issues that are always passed over for something else.

[kirchbabe]

I just came across these postings.  I've had the :"fainting while laughing" problem for some years until last night I finally completely lost consciousness for the first time.  Until now, it's only been like a twilight consciousness or "seeing stars".  I did some research on the web and it appears it could be due to what they call vegal syncope.  It has to do with the vegas nerve and not enough blood flow to the brain at the time of the laughing.  In any case, it could also be the beginning of some heart issues so I'm going to be seeing a doctor.

Just thought I would pass this info on.  Oh, and btw, I did see a doctor about 18 mos ago and told him about these symptoms.  He looked at me and smirked and told me not to worry about it and to stop laughing so hard.  Needless to say, you need to find a doctor who will find your symptoms credible, OR, bring some backup information from the web with you.

[drhog]

This is due to either your laughing producing stimulation of the carotid sinus in your neck, or a left ventricular arrythmia. You should see your doctor for a check-up.

[Stayathomedaddy]

hello I was looking this up and I found your comments on this I must say I dont have the ringing in my ears! But today when I was laughing I actually did pass out! Not Fun  Well iam going to ask the doc on thursday ill let ya know!

[kirchbabe]

I'll be very interested in what your doctor has to say.  I've been waiting for my Medicare to start up so I can actually get to see a doctor.  Being without any medical insurance and having this kind of symptomology is very scary.  That's why I reached out in the first place.  I don't have the ear ringing either, but I have passed out from laughing and frequently get dizzy and almost lose consciousness when I laugh.  I have to abruptly stop my laughing to catch myself before I totally go blank.  

I have three daughters and they all have the vegus nerve syncope.  I'm wondering if what I have is also related to that.

I'll be waiting to read your post.

[Willard77]

I am a respiratory therapist. I would guess that what is happening is that you are blowing off your CO2 or carbon dioxide. Kind of like when you blow up a baloon or take ten really fast breaths. In head injury patients, we "hyperventilate" them while on life support in order to knock their PH down. Cerebral arteries then constrict thus reducing bleeding and swelling. Co2 is our bodies main acid and our PH is rapidly increased when we hyperventilate. This in turn will cause a tempoary decrease in the blood flow to the brain and we will feel faint or light headed. Anxiety can provocke the same responce. BTW: our kidneys play a vital role in our bodies balancing of it's PH. Kidneys retain Bicarbonate, our bodies main base. That is why diabetics have respiratory symptoms when they are in crisis. Normal PH is about 7.35 to 7.45. Hope this makes sense.
  Other thoughts might be a venous malfunction or heart weakness but not the most probable.
  Someone posted that a valsalva manauver could be the cause. Valsalva is when you hold your breath and push your abdomen. Like straining to have a bowel movement. In the elderly this can cause the heart to stop. Never strain :-). Eat enough fiber.

[kirchbabe]

Thank you for your posting.  I'll be seeing my doctor, finally, on Jan. 7, 2010.  I plan on bring with me the info I've found here online in an effort to get a good diagnosis.  I'll post when I have a definitive answer and hopefully that will help the others who have this problem as well.

To all a very happy holiday season and let's have some good health in the new year.

[kbk_75]

This evening I was having a hearty laugh at a joke and got this sudden head rush feeling (I was seated) and felt like I was going light headed. It's never happened to me before. Like several of the other posters in this thread, I too have put on quite a bit of weight over the past several months and I also have what I think is tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

I wonder if it's pure coincidence that several posters report similar symptoms. Surely there's some explanation?

[Matty3340]

I am amazed to read that others have similar symptoms as mine. It used to be that if I would get up to fast, like jumping up from a sitting position to cheer a touchdown or goal, I would faint or nearly faint. I have only fainted twice and it was only for a very brief duration. I have nearly fainted many times. Recently I have had the same thing happen to me while sitting at a poker table, but had not stood up at all. I was laughing both times. Now that I am 37, I'm starting to worry about it and hoping it isn't getting any worse. I've always been very active except for the last two years. I had a work accident and destroyed my ankle and am unable to exercise like I used to. Thanks for everyone posting this information.  

[robertleesmith]

i am 51 y/o and I have fainted at least 4 times now.  It seems to be getting worse and based on the postings here, I am no longer afraid of mentioning this to my doctor.  the postings will help me to clarify what is actually happening.  In my case, i was always laughing.  I;m sure I will need to see a specialist so I will be looking for one in Atlanta.  Please post any reccomendations.

[heros1977]

The reason I had to google ''Laughing and fainting is because it happened to me way back when I was quite young.We were walking from a poshomill with my brother Samuel. He kept making alot of jokes then and I was laughing out of the jokes. I laughed so much that I fainted and passed out completely,when I came to,I had urinated on my pair shorts.This worried my brother very much.We didn't however tell anyone.Upto now my brother remembers the incident.This was in the year 1990.

[kirchbabe]

It's been quite some time since I last posted.  During this time I've seen my primary doctor as well as a cardiologist.  I now have a diagnosis.  Coronary Artery disease.  So, I'm not saying that everyone who faints from a hearty belly laugh has this disease, however I would strongly suggest that if you're fainting or near fainting when you laugh very hard and you're experiencing bouts of dizziness when you rise from sitting or any other unusual symptoms that may be of concern to you, get yourself to your doctor and discuss this.  I would also recommend you bring this thread with you so your doctor will understand that you're experiencing something that many others have experienced as well.  This is not something to ignore apparently.

Good luck to all.  I hope you get your diagnosis so that you can begin dealing with the symptoms rather than wondering why it's happening.

[cloward3]

Chalk me down as another with the same symptoms. Ringing in the ears, weight gain over last 5 years and I frequently get light headed and nearly pass out when I laugh really hard.

I am an EMT but still don't quite know what is causing this to occur. I contacted my doctor and she seemed surprisingly concerned. I'll reply with whatever information I get from my doctor next week.

[john1046]

i am a 63 caucasian male. was partying last weekend with friends. started laughing so hard that I couldn't speak. few seconds later I apparently fell off my chair and was unconscious for about 10 - 15 seconds. during that short period i actually did see a good part of my life pass by in vivid colour. was a little shaky when i came to, but otherwise ok.

[john1046]

same guy as above. i haven't had the ringing in the ears sensation. maybe 20 years ago over a period of at least 5 years I used to laugh so hard - usually at my own crummy jokes that I would feel faint and short of breath, but never actually fainted.