Fainting without warning is frightening, and the uncertainty that follows can be just as unsettling. Whether it happened once or has become a recurring pattern, syncope, a sudden and brief loss of consciousness, deserves a real answer. The heart is often at the center of the cause, and understanding what your heart rhythm is doing before, during, and after an episode is the key to finding it.
At Valley Heart & Rhythm, Dr. Menachem Wakslak brings the precision of cardiac electrophysiology to every evaluation, pairing advanced monitoring technology with the personalized attention that is rare in modern medicine.
What Is Syncope?
Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a sudden drop in blood flow to the brain. It typically resolves on its own within seconds or minutes, but that does not make it harmless. In some cases, syncope signals a serious underlying heart rhythm problem that requires proper evaluation.
Common signs that may accompany syncope include:
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Sudden racing or irregular heartbeat before fainting
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Lightheadedness or dizziness
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Brief loss of consciousness without warning
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Fatigue or confusion after an episode
The Role of Heart Rhythm Monitoring
Because syncope is unpredictable, capturing your heart’s activity at the exact moment of an episode is critical. Heart rhythm monitoring records your heart’s electrical activity over time, providing Dr. Wakslak with the data needed to identify arrhythmias that a standard ECG may miss.
Depending on your history and how frequently episodes occur, monitoring options may include:
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Holter monitor: A wearable device worn for 24 to 48 hours that records continuous heart rhythm data
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Extended event monitors: Worn for several weeks and activated when symptoms occur
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Implantable loop recorder (ILR): A small device placed just under the skin that monitors heart rhythm continuously for up to three years, ideal when episodes are infrequent or unpredictable
The right monitoring approach is selected based on your individual situation, not a default protocol.
Who Should Consider a Syncope Evaluation?
If you have experienced unexplained fainting, near-fainting, or recurrent dizziness, a thorough evaluation is warranted. A syncope evaluation is especially important for adults who:
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Have fainted more than once without a clear cause
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Experience palpitations or a racing heart before or after an episode
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Have a personal or family history of heart rhythm problems
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Have been told their ECG showed an abnormality
What to Expect During Your Evaluation
Your evaluation at Valley Heart & Rhythm begins with a detailed conversation. Dr. Wakslak wants to understand your full story before recommending any testing. From there, he will determine which monitoring approach best fits your situation. If a loop recorder is recommended, the implant procedure is minor and minimally invasive.
Results are reviewed carefully, and you will always understand exactly what your data show and what they mean for your care.
Why Choose Valley Heart & Rhythm for Syncope and Heart Rhythm Monitoring in Tarzana, CA?
Getting answers to unexplained syncope takes more than attaching a monitor. It takes a physician who understands what the data reveals and knows what to do next. Dr. Wakslak is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who has been caring for patients in the San Fernando Valley since 2012. He trained at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, completed cardiovascular training at Maimonides Medical Center, and finished his electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Dr. Wakslak makes every clinical decision at Valley Heart & Rhythm personally. There are no rotating providers, no handoffs to someone you have never met. His team is intentionally small, and every patient is known by name. When something as alarming as unexplained fainting brings you in, that level of continuity and personal involvement is not a luxury. It is how care should work.
Get Real Answers for Unexplained Fainting in Tarzana, CA
Syncope should never be brushed aside. If you have experienced fainting or near-fainting and still do not have a clear explanation, Dr. Wakslak and his team at Valley Heart & Rhythm are ready to help you find one. Call (818) 724-8000 to schedule your evaluation at our Tarzana, CA, office.
