Why do some people suddenly faint?

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness due to lack of oxygenated blood in the brain. The affected person suddenly becomes pale, feels nauseous and falls to the ground.

It can happen due to several reasons. It could be due to anaemia. Working for a long time, standing still for long or pressure on the neck (due to a tight collar) can also cause fainting. An emotional shock too, can cause a person to faint. Other causes for fainting are internal bleeding and severe pain. Diabetes and malfunctioning of the heart are the serious causes of fainting. But don’t ever make the mistake of assuming a cause. It is always safe to consult your family physician.

Q Why do we also feel like fighting when we see a fight sequence in a movie?

— Kalpesh V Shah, Dhule

Human beings are highly influenced by: (1) what they read (2) what they listen to; and (3) what they observe. Therefore they tend to imitate. Of course they also experiment and explore and are influenced by their findings.

What is seen and heard when one is relaxed and feeling sleepy, influences people far more than what they see, or hear, when they are fully alert. Therefore, I advise youngsters NOT to watch any movie or a TV programme when they are sleepy. I would suggest that you should not see a TV programme for at least half an hour after waking up and you should not go to bed for at least half an hour after watching a TV programme, if you wish to be an achiever.

Q If a woman undergoes plastic surgery on the face and later gives birth to a child, will the child’s face be like the original face of the mother or the face she acquires after plastic surgery?

— N Divya, New Panvel

Plastic surgery of the face is normally done to remove blemishes from the skin, to make the complexion fairer, to make the nose sharper and for various other reasons besides these. The child will not inherit the acquired complexion or the changed nose.

Q Why do earthquakes occur only in certain places?

– Tuba, Bhatkal

Earthquakes take place because of `faults’ below the crust of the earth. There is lot of molten rock (magma) beneath the crust of the earth. The magma moves. There are many plates below the crust of the earth. Some of these plates are situated one above the other, without being in a state of equilibrium. Sometimes these plates shift their positions, which gives rise to earthquakes.

Q Why is the Bermuda Triangle called a death triangle?

— Rohan Khata, Borivli (East)

— Sneha Tavargeri, Parel

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, is in the Atlantic Ocean. The region between Florida, Bermuda and Sargossa is some what triangular in shape. In the past, many aeroplanes and ships have vanished here without a trace. Since the 16th century, the Bermuda Triangle has been an area of heavy traffic. Some scientists feel that with such heavy traffic, it is natural for the area to be accident-prone. Scientists attribute the disappearances to bad weather, heavy traffic and human error.