New devices warn of blackouts

Two new devices are now available to monitor recurrent blackouts, which can cause death in 10 percent cases and injuries in 30 percent, a senior cardiologist said here Friday. "Blackouts, that result due to dysfunction of certain brain cells, are sudden and lead to brief loss of consciousness. They are not the same as having a fall or suddenly tripping over," explained Suvro Banerjee, a senior consultant cardiologist of Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, said at a media conference here. The most common cause for blackouts is transient interruption of blood supply to the brain or syncope, which in turn is a result of abnormal heart rhythms. Blackouts lead to anxiety and depression, thereby affecting the quality of life."To prevent blackouts it's necessary to know the reason for syncope, and therefore monitoring heart rates becomes crucial," Banerjee said.Click here for full story