An anxiety attack can result in physical and emotional changes in the body. In general, the symptoms of an anxiety attack include nausea, increased heart rate, dizziness, feelings of looming doom, and fast breathing in a shallow manner. On the other hand, fainting is a phenomenon wherein a person falls unconscious for a short period of time, ranging from seconds to minutes. Normally the person concerned revives from the unconsciousness very soon.

However, a fainting episode could prove to be dangerous if the person hurts himself or herself due to the fall. This condition medically termed as syncope is caused by a decreased flow of blood to the brain. Fainting as a result of an anxiety attack is a possibility. There are several reasons for the association between the two conditions.

Firstly, a person undergoing a bout of anxiety tends to experience fluctuations in one's emotional feelings. Fainting could be the result of such emotional anguish. Hyperventilation could be another reason for fainting during an anxiety attack. The breathing mechanism during an anxiety attack is rather rapid and shallow. This causes high intake of oxygen and subsequently fast exhalation of carbon dioxide. Since carbon dioxide is released at a very fast rate, its level in the blood decreases leading to the narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain. This constriction of the blood vessels ultimately leads to fainting.

A third reason for this could be the stimulation of the vagus nerve that is present in the neck, chest and intestines. This process is referred to as vasovagal or vasomotor syncope. The emotional upheaval during an anxiety attack can cause the stimulation of the vagus nerve, which is characterized by nausea, damp hands and fainting. In due of course of time, the patient gets well aware of the body symptoms and can, therefore, avoid fainting or hurting oneself during the state of unconsciousness by either making a conscious effort to slow down the breathing or by sitting, the moment the attack strikes them.

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