The Los Angeles meteorologist who dramatically fainted on live television Saturday revealed that the terrifying moment was brought on by a common disease.
CBS Los Angeles weatherwoman Alissa Carlson Schwartz told colleagues Tuesday that she suffers from vasovagal syncope, which affects roughly one-third of the population.
“I do have a history of fainting,” Schwartz said. “It’s just when you’re on a public platform, sometimes it happens and people now see this.”
Schwartz shocked weekend viewers when she turned white during her 7 a.m. weather report and leaned forward uneasily on her desk.
She tried to steady herself as her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she slumped forward. Schwartz then suddenly dropped to the ground as her co-anchors shrieked in surprise.
Schwartz was hospitalized with a head injury but returned to the station days later with the good news she had recovered from the scary incident and could point to its exact cause.
Vasovagal syncope occurs when one’s body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is often triggered by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, which leads to reduced blood flow to the brain.
Schwartz revealed that her leaky heart valve — which she was diagnosed with after suffering a similar scary episode in 2014 — was not to blame for the fainting spell.
“Initially when this happened, I think a lot of people — including myself — thought I was having a heart attack on the air,” Schwartz recounted.
“That was not the case, thankfully, and heart has proved that I’m fine. My heart is great.”
The California meteorologist said she felt fine in the hours before the broadcast and only felt symptoms about 15 minutes before the terrifying fainting spell.
Schwartz said she hadn’t eaten anything yet and was drinking “a lot of coffee” and attributed her feelings of nausea to dehydration — which Cedars-Sinai Hospital attributes as the two of the biggest risk factors for developing the condition.
“At that point, I thought ‘I’m just gonna power through. I’ll be fine as I usually am,'” Schwartz recounted, noting that she realized her mistake the second the cameras turned on.
“I could feel the tunnel vision coming and just starting to get black and so I tried to brace myself on that desk but no, it was too late.”
Schwartz, who moonlights as a “health coach” offered some advice so others could avoid ailing from the same disease.
Staying hydrated and getting enough rest were two of her biggest points, but Schwart reminded viewers to keep their health in mind in aspects of their daily lives.
“Sometimes we put ourselves last. We go go go until something happens, and then it’s too late,” she said.
