Soaring temperatures and hectic election campaigning took their toll on senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who collapsed on the dais after suffering a bout of dizziness midway during his speech in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district last week.
Gadkari, who is also a diabetic, fainted during his speech after feeling dizzy and was immediately carried away by those on stage. However, his condition stabilised soon after, and he posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I felt discomfort due to the heat at the rally in Pusad, Maharashtra. But now I am completely healthy….”
“This fainting is caused due to vasovagal syncope, a common and benign but often misunderstood condition,” explains Dr. Tarun Kumar, Professor of Cardiology at ABVIMS and a doctor at RML Hospital, Delhi, in an interview with Health on Air.
“Triggers like long exposure to heat, prolonged standing, extreme pain, or workout, or even the sight of blood can cause it. While not life-threatening, vasovagal syncope affects a significant portion of the population – up to 35% of people between 35-60 experience it at least once, leading to potential social, emotional, and financial impacts,” he adds.
“Fainting is often preceded by symptoms like sweating, dizziness, or nausea,” says Dr. Kumar. “If someone feels these warning signs, they should take support and lie down immediately to prevent falls and injuries.”
Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari‘s fainting incident sparked a viral LinkedIn thread by Dr. Rakesh Garg, where he urgently addressed common and dangerous mistakes made when someone collapses. “Shri Nitin Gadkari ji fainted during a rally, and people around again made the same mistake 99% of people do while handling such situations,” he wrote in his post.
“People often waste precious seconds trying to make the person sit up,” Dr. Garg warns, “and mistakenly try to give them water while still unconscious.”
He stresses that the immediate actions should be:
- Lay the person flat.
- Raise their legs above heart level to improve blood flow to the brain.
- Never give them water if not fully conscious, as it creates a choking hazard.
- Ensure the person has space and ventilation
We spoke with Dr. Kashyap Razdan, Medical Officer in Central Govt Health Services, Jammu, to verify these claims and he reinforced this danger, stating: “Relaxed muscles in semi-conscious or unconscious patients significantly increase the danger of water aspiration into the lungs.”
The thread inspired many netizens to come forth and share their experience of fainting or helping others navigate a similar situation. The dangers of well-meaning but harmful actions were highlighted by LinkedIn user, Sanjeev Chhabra: “Don’t give water’ is vital to remember. Years ago, a young relative of mine never recovered from a coma after receiving water during an epileptic fit.”
In the same thread Cherry Bhargava from Pune shared a personal encounter: “Recently, I faced a similar situation. Suddenly, I fainted in the market, due to scorching heat in Pune. People around me arranged chairs and water. I regained my senses, again after 5 mins everything was blackout. Then I lay down on the sofa in one showroom. After a few minutes, I was better. You are right, rather than searching for a chair or water, we should lie down to enhance blood circulation. We should also avoid going to the market during peak sunny hours.”
Many people shared how a lack of understanding led to wrong administration of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on people who had simply fainted. Myna Batavia, a LinkedIn user, shared a heartbreaking story: “A father at a movie theater collapsed while eating popcorn. Someone tried CPR even with the popcorn in his mouth. Sadly, delays and a lack of proper facilities led to his tragic death.”
Experts clarify that seizures and cardiac arrest, while causing unconsciousness, are not the same as fainting. CPR should only be given if the patient isn’t breathing or you can’t feel their pulse.
HR professional Sanjana chimed in: “I once gave CPR to a woman who had fallen in the metro station washroom, only to find out later that she had fainted.” Yet another user said, “My roommate fainted, and I panicked. Even though I’d just had CPR training, I tried to open his mouth to check his breathing, and he bit my fingers! I thought I was doing it right, but now I’m not so sure.”
Dr. Kumar emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and preventative measures: “Learning to recognize the early signs of fainting is crucial,” he says, “especially for those with underlying conditions like heart conditions or high blood pressure. Staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged standing, and minimizing exposure to heat, pain, and overexertion are all essential. Simple actions like taking breaks to stretch while standing can prevent fainting episodes.”
“Fainting is a common experience and doesn’t always indicate serious health problems. While those with other conditions should get checked, for most people, it’s simply a temporary reaction to unusual stress.”
As Gadkari’s incident continues to spark discussion, the need for widespread first-aid training becomes even clearer. By teaching basic first-aid skills, communities can empower individuals to respond effectively to health crises and potentially save lives.