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What Causes Excessive Sweating And Vision Alteration?
Posted on
Sun, 20 Sep 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 20 Sep 2015
Answered on
Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : i experienced sweating all over and a blackness of my vision. It lasted about a minute. I was at alunch with friends and never mentioned what happened. When the incident stopped, I felt ok, but it was disconcerting.
Brief Answer:
Transitory hypotension
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That episode of sweating and vision alteration which you describe corresponds to the description of presyncope (differs from syncope - a term perhaps more familiar to you - in that it doesn't involve loss of consciousness). The cause is transitory hypotension (low blood pressure) with insufficient blood supply to the brain.
The causes can be several like heart arrhythmias, stenosis of aortic valve in the heart, orthostatic hypotension (if the episode happened when changing to a standing position), low blood sugar, stenosis of neck blood vessels, autonomic nervous system issues etc. Often when it's a case of an isolated episode no cause is found.
So for the moment since you do not mention for this to be a repeated episode and you seem to be fine now I would recommend only a heart ECG to check for the cause which might require urgent intervention, heart arrhythmias (you already take an antiarrhythmic such as diltiazem) as well as a routine physical exam by your primary physician including blood pressure measurements supine and standing. Also your medication may be seen as at times they can cause hypotension or dizziness so some of them may be reconsidered if not vital (such as XXXXXXX for example - usually to be avoided long term use in the elderly).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Transitory hypotension
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That episode of sweating and vision alteration which you describe corresponds to the description of presyncope (differs from syncope - a term perhaps more familiar to you - in that it doesn't involve loss of consciousness). The cause is transitory hypotension (low blood pressure) with insufficient blood supply to the brain.
The causes can be several like heart arrhythmias, stenosis of aortic valve in the heart, orthostatic hypotension (if the episode happened when changing to a standing position), low blood sugar, stenosis of neck blood vessels, autonomic nervous system issues etc. Often when it's a case of an isolated episode no cause is found.
So for the moment since you do not mention for this to be a repeated episode and you seem to be fine now I would recommend only a heart ECG to check for the cause which might require urgent intervention, heart arrhythmias (you already take an antiarrhythmic such as diltiazem) as well as a routine physical exam by your primary physician including blood pressure measurements supine and standing. Also your medication may be seen as at times they can cause hypotension or dizziness so some of them may be reconsidered if not vital (such as XXXXXXX for example - usually to be avoided long term use in the elderly).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. I will contact my regular physician.
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hopefully it was only an isolated episode.
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hopefully it was only an isolated episode.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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