What is the medical term for fainting or loss of consciousness?

The medical term for fainting or loss of consciousness is syncope. This term specifically refers to a temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain, which can be triggered by various factors such as dehydration, sudden changes in posture, or emotional stress. Syncope is characterized by a brief episode of total or partial loss of consciousness that typically resolves on its own without the need for extensive medical intervention.

Dizziness, while it may accompany syncope, does not refer to a loss of consciousness but rather a sensation of lightheadedness or instability. Coma describes a prolonged state of unconsciousness from which the individual cannot be awakened and is significantly more severe than syncope. Shock is a medical emergency characterized by inadequate blood flow to the organs, which can lead to organ failure, but it does not specifically define the transient condition of fainting. Thus, syncope is the precise term used in a medical context for the phenomenon of fainting.