On September 24, 2026, Ghana witnessed a Member of Parliament lose consciousness and collapse while delivering a speech, sparking concern among members of the public.

Although such incidents can be alarming, sudden collapse is not necessarily caused by one condition.

People can lose consciousness for several medical reasons, and in some cases, warning signs may appear before the person collapses.

A medical professional who analysed the MP’s incident has explained some of the possible causes of sudden collapse, with particular attention to a condition known as vasovagal syncope.

What happens before someone collapses?

According to the medical professional, the MP appeared to experience dizziness before losing consciousness.

He explained that dizziness, lightheadedness and problems with vision can sometimes serve as warning signs that a person is about to faint.

However, he cautioned that several conditions can cause a person to collapse, including hypoglycemia, orthostatic hypotension and certain heart conditions.

What is vasovagal syncope?

Vasovagal syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness that can occur when the body overreacts to certain triggers.

The medical professional explained that emotional shock, stress, heartbreak, seeing blood and standing for a prolonged period can trigger the condition in some people.

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“When someone breaks bad news to you, you are shocked, you collapse. When you are going through emotional stress, maybe when you are going through some heartbreak or anything, you can collapse. When you stand for too long, usually going for any parade or anything that makes you stand for too long, you can collapse.”

He added that seeing blood can also trigger a vasovagal episode in some individuals.

Why does it cause a person to faint?

According to the explanation, vasovagal syncope involves overstimulation of a nerve that communicates with the brain.

“When this nerve becomes overstimulated, what happens is that it suddenly drops your blood pressure and it drops your heart rate.”

The resulting reduction in blood flow to the brain can cause symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision and lightheadedness before the person loses consciousness.

What should you do when someone collapses?

The medical professional advised that someone experiencing a suspected vasovagal episode should be allowed to lie flat on their back.

“The best thing to do for someone with vasovagal syncope is to let the person lie flat on their back. The moment the person lies flat, blood gets back to the brain and that person gets up as if nothing happened.”

He cautioned against pouring cold water on the person or immediately giving them large amounts of liquid, and also advised seeking medical assistance.

How can it be prevented?

He recommended that people who are prone to vasovagal episodes identify their triggers and avoid them where possible.

He also advised people to eat before attending major programmes, particularly when they expect to stand or speak for long periods.

He said regularly shifting body weight and moving the legs while standing may help prevent prolonged standing from triggering an episode.

“When you are standing, you can balance your weight. Always move your leg, move it, shift your weight to one side and shift it to the other side.”

A person who collapses, particularly for the first time or without an obvious trigger, should receive appropriate medical assessment to determine the cause.

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