Instant loss of consciousness. Why people faint: causes, possible diseases, treatment. Heart disease - the cause of cardiac syncope

Fainting is caused by a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain and may be a sign of a more serious condition...

Temporary loss of consciousness - fainting

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness.

Fainting is caused by a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain and may be a sign of a more serious condition.

People of any age can faint, but older people may have more serious causes.

The most common causes of fainting are vasovagal ( a sharp decline heart rate and blood pressure) and heart disease.

In most cases, the cause of fainting is unknown.

Fainting can have many different causes:

Vasovagal syncope also known as " general weakness" This is the most common reason fainting caused by an abnormal vascular reflex.

The heart pumps more intensely, the blood vessels relax, but the heart rate does not compensate quickly enough to maintain blood flow to the brain.

Causes of vasovagal syncope:

1) environmental factors(happens more often when it’s hot);

2) emotional factors (stress);

3) physical factors(load);

4) illness (fatigue, dehydration, etc.).

Situational fainting only occurs in certain situations.

Causes of situational fainting:

1) cough (some people faint when coughing too hard);

2) when swallowing (in some people, loss of consciousness is associated with illness in the throat or esophagus);

3) when urinating (when receptive person loses consciousness when the bladder is full);

4) hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus (in some people when turning the neck, shaving or wearing a tight collar);

5) postprandial syncope can occur in older people when they blood pressure falls about an hour after eating.

Orthostatic syncope occurs when a person feels fine while lying down, but when standing up, may suddenly faint. Blood flow to the brain decreases when a person stands due to a temporary decrease in blood pressure.

This fainting sometimes occurs in people who have recently started taking (or have been changed to) certain heart medications.

Orthostatic syncope can be due to the following reasons:

1) low circulating blood volume caused by blood loss (external or internal blood loss), dehydration or heat exhaustion;

2) impaired circulatory reflexes caused by taking medications, diseases nervous system or congenital problems. Cardiac syncope occurs when a person loses consciousness due to cardiovascular disease.

Cardiac causes of fainting are usually life-threatening and include the following:

1) abnormal heart rhythm - arrhythmia. Electrical problems hearts impair its pumping function. This leads to decreased blood flow. Your heart rate may be too fast or too slow. This condition usually causes fainting without any warning.

2) cardiac obstructions. Blood flow may be obstructed in blood vessels in the chest. Cardiac obstruction can cause loss of consciousness during exercise. Various diseases can lead to obstruction (heart attacks, diseased heart valves due to pulmonary embolism, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, tamponade of the heart and aorta).

3) heart failure: the pumping ability of the heart is impaired. This reduces the force with which blood circulates through the body, which can reduce blood flow to the brain.

Neurological syncope may be associated with neurological conditions.

Its reasons are:

1) a stroke (bleeding in the brain) can cause fainting associated with headache;

2) a transient ischemic attack (or mini-stroke) can cause loss of consciousness. In this case, fainting is usually preceded by double vision, loss of balance, slurred speech, or dizziness;

3) in in rare cases A migraine can cause fainting. Psychogenic fainting. Hyperventilation due to anxiety can lead to fainting. The diagnosis of psychogenic syncope should be considered only after all other causes have been excluded.

Symptoms of fainting

Losing consciousness is an obvious sign of fainting.

Vasovagal syncope. Before fainting, a person may feel light-headed; blurred vision will be noted. A person may see “spots before the eyes.”

The patient experiences pallor, dilated pupils, and sweating.

While unconscious, a person may have a low heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute).

The person must quickly regain consciousness. Many people do not have any warning signs before fainting.

Situational fainting. Consciousness returns very quickly when the situation passes.

Orthostatic syncope. Before an episode of fainting, a person may notice blood loss (black stools, heavy periods) or fluid loss (vomiting, diarrhea, fever). The person may also experience delusions. Observers may also note paleness, sweating, or signs of dehydration (dry lips and tongue).

Cardiac syncope. The person may report palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Observers may note the patient's weakness, irregular pulse, pallor, or sweating. Fainting often occurs without warning or after exertion.

Neurological syncope. The person may have a headache, loss of balance, slurred speech, double vision, or dizziness (the feeling that the room is spinning). Observers note strong pulse during the unconscious period and normal color skin.

When to seek medical help?

Because fainting can be caused serious condition, All episodes of loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.

Anyone, even after the first episode of loss of consciousness, should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Depending on what was shown medical checkup, the doctor may require tests.

These tests may include: blood tests; ECG, daily monitoring, echocardiography, functional load test. Table tilt test. This test checks how your body reacts to changes in position. Tests to detect nervous system problems (head CT scan, brain MRI or EEG).

If the person next to you faints, help him.

• Place it on the ground to minimize the chance of injury.
• Encourage the person actively and call an ambulance immediately if the person is unresponsive.
• Check your pulse and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary.
• If the person is recovering, let him lie down until the ambulance arrives.
• Even if the cause of fainting is not dangerous, have the person lie down for 15-20 minutes before getting up.
• Ask him about any symptoms such as headache, back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, weakness or loss of function, because these may indicate life-threatening causes of fainting.

Treatment of fainting

Treatment for fainting depends on the diagnosis.

Vasovagal syncope. Drink plenty of water, increase your salt intake (under medical supervision), and avoid standing for long periods of time.

Orthostatic syncope. Change your lifestyle: sit down, bend over calf muscles for a few minutes before getting out of bed. Stay hydrated.

Elderly people with low blood pressure Large meals should be avoided after meals or you should plan to lie down for several hours after eating. In most cases, you should stop taking the medications that cause fainting (or change them).

Cardiac fainting. For treatment cardiac syncope the underlying disease must be treated.

Valvular heart disease often requires surgical intervention, while arrhythmia can be treated with medications.

Medications and lifestyle changes.

These procedures are designed to optimize heart performance and control high blood pressure; in some cases, antiarrhythmic drugs may be prescribed.

Surgery: bypass surgery or angioplasty are used to treat coronary heart disease; in some cases the valves may need to be replaced. A pacemaker may be implanted to normalize the heart rate (slows the heart for fast arrhythmias or speeds up the heart for slow arrhythmias). Implanted defibrillators are used to manage life-threatening rapid arrhythmias.

Preventing fainting

Preventive measures depend on the cause and severity of the fainting problem.

Fainting can sometimes be prevented by taking simple precautions.

• If you are weak due to the heat, cool down your body.
• If you faint while standing (after lying down), move slowly while standing. Slowly move to a sitting position and rest for a few minutes. When you are ready, stand up using slow and fluid movements.

In other cases, the causes of fainting may be subtle. That's why Consult your doctor to determine the cause of fainting.

Once the cause is determined, treatment for the underlying disease should begin.

Cardiac syncope: because of high risk death from cardiac syncope, people who experience it must be treated for the underlying illness.

Periodic fainting. Consult a doctor to determine the reasons for frequent loss of consciousness.

Prognosis due to fainting

The prognosis for a person who has fainted depends largely on the cause, the patient's age, and available treatments.

• Cardiac syncope has the greatest risk sudden death, especially in older people.
• Syncope that is not related to cardiac or neurological disease, poses a more limited risk than in the general population.

Checking the pulse in the neck area. The pulse can be clearly felt only near the throat (trachea).

If the pulse is felt, note whether it is regular and count the number of beats in 15 seconds.

To determine your heart rate (beats per minute), multiply this number by 4.

The normal heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

If fainting happened just once, then you don’t have to worry about it.

It is important to see a doctor because fainting can have serious causes.

Fainting may be a sign of a serious problem if:

1) it often occurs over a short period of time.

2) it occurs during physical exercise or vigorous activity.

3) fainting occurs without warning or in a supine position. When fainting is not serious, the person often knows it is about to happen and vomits or feels sick.

4) a person loses a lot of blood. This may include internal bleeding.

5) shortness of breath is noted.

6) chest pain is noted.

7) a person feels that his heart is pounding (palpitations).

8) Fainting occurs along with numbness or tingling in one side of the face or body. published .

If you have any questions, please ask

The materials are for informational purposes only. Remember, self-medication is life-threatening; consult a doctor for advice on the use of any medications and treatment methods.

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet

(outdated medical name - syncope) is a condition characterized by loss of consciousness and a drop in blood pressure. Metabolism slows down, sudden weakness and confusion. Fainting can last from a few seconds to tens of minutes.

In most cases, fainting is caused by a sudden decrease in metabolism in the brain, disrupted cerebral circulation, the brain stops receiving enough oxygen. Even though the brain is not functioning at full capacity, the basic vital signs decrease, but do not disappear completely. The patient is breathing, the heart is working.

Loss of consciousness may be caused by the most various diseases. Sometimes fainting occurs due to a coincidence of circumstances - fatigue, stuffiness, prolonged fasting.

Before fainting, there is always a pre-fainting state, which can also last from a few seconds to several minutes. In some cases, it is enough for the patient to sit or lie down and relax the collar to avoid fainting.

Presyncope is characterized by the following symptoms:

• pulsation in temples;
• difficulty breathing - a subjective feeling of lack of oxygen;
• increased sweating;
• feeling of heat throughout the body;
• nausea, dizziness;
• tachycardia, feeling of rapid heartbeat;
• appearance dark spots before your eyes.

If the patient fails to sit down, he faints. In most cases, patients quickly come to their senses without outside help (although this does not mean that it does not need to be provided). Sometimes after fainting there are other unpleasant symptoms, such as trembling and involuntary twitching limbs, urge to urinate.

Causes of fainting

There are several physiological reasons which can lead to short-term loss of consciousness. Let's look at some of them.

1. Disturbances in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. This system is responsible for vascular tone. If there is a malfunction, it cannot correctly give commands to the vessels, they contract sharply, and loss of consciousness occurs. This is the main cause of neurogenic fainting - the most common fainting.
2. Diseases of cardio-vascular system. They are the cause of the so-called. cardiogenic syncope. The heart does not work well enough, the blood vessels narrow, which leads to brain hypoxia.
3. Atherosclerosis and vascular diseases. This also includes ischemic attacks and strokes.
4. Increased intracranial pressure. It occurs as a consequence of certain diseases - a tumor, congenital hydrocephalus, or against the background of cerebral hemorrhage, as well as after head injuries.
5. Decreased blood glucose, decreased oxygen concentration in tissues. Such conditions occur with diabetes, anemia, kidney and liver failure.
6. As a result of a decrease in the volume of fluid circulating in the body. May be the result of bleeding, diarrhea, or other excess fluid loss.
7. Toxin poisoning: carbon monoxide, ethyl alcohol and others.
8. As a result of various psychological and psychiatric diseases. For example, with neuroses, anxiety states common symptom- This is hyperventilation. The body tries to control the oxygen content, which leads to vascular spasm. In such cases, patients need to learn breathing techniques.

There are others causes: infectious diseases, traumatic brain injuries, epileptic seizures. In each individual case, it is necessary to undergo an examination to find out why fainting occurs.

If this is an isolated case, and there were no pathologies during medical examinations before, there is no need to worry. But if fainting recurs, you need to visit a neurologist.

Our doctors

Types of fainting

The classification of fainting is based on the causes of loss of consciousness. There are three main types of fainting:

• neurogenic;
• cardiogenic;
• hyperventilation.

Among neurogenic syncope, in turn, a distinction is made between vasodepressor and orthostatic. The first ones are the most common, usually occurring in fairly young patients in stuffy conditions, stress, fatigue, or lack of nutrients.

Orthostatic fainting occurs when there is a sudden change in body position (usually during a sudden rise or standing). It may also be caused by taking certain medications.

Cardiogenic loss of consciousness occurs when the heart rhythm is abnormal and can accompany a heart attack. Cardiogenic syncope accounts for up to a quarter of all cases of loss of consciousness, especially among the elderly population.

Hyperventilatory syncope occurs due to rapid breathing. This symptom is typical for panic attacks, anxiety attacks. Sometimes this condition is called a vegetative crisis.

Clinical picture

Fainting is characterized by rapid development. Loss of consciousness occurs rapidly. Sometimes patients don’t even have time to realize that something is wrong. In other cases there are typical symptoms pre-fainting state.

Fainting characterized by the following clinical manifestations:

• lack of consciousness;
• weak pulse;
• decreased breathing rate (bradypnea);
• lack of pupillary reaction to light;
• the patient comes to his senses within 1-5 minutes (if fainting lasts longer, this is serious);
• after fainting, pallor and weakness persist;
• some time after there is a decrease arterial pressure;
• Dizziness and nausea may occur.

In most cases, syncope occurs while the patient is in vertical position. If the patient loses consciousness while lying down, then it is necessary to suspect a serious somatic pathology.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnostics begin with initial appointment from a neurologist. First, the doctor will try to find out in what circumstances, under the influence of what provoking factors, loss of consciousness develops. To establish final diagnosis You will need to undergo a series of instrumental examinations.

Thus, if cardiogenic fainting is suspected, the patient is referred for an ECG, ECHO-cardiography, and also for consultation with a cardiologist. If epilepsy is suspected, an electroencephalogram is performed. It is also common to take a blood sample to check blood sugar levels to rule out hypoglycemia. If anemia is suspected, it is necessary to conduct a blood test for hemoglobin content. If there is a possibility of neurological or organic diseases brain, then CT and/or MRI, as well as vascular examination, are prescribed.

Treatment It is carried out on an outpatient basis; it is enough to undergo an examination and receive treatment prescriptions.

First aid for fainting

It is important to know how to provide first aid if you lose consciousness.

• The patient should be placed on his back with exalted position lower extremities.
• Unbutton your collar, loosen your tie, remove your scarf, and provide fresh air.
• To speed up the return to consciousness, you can spray the patient cold water. For the same purposes, it is recommended to use ammonia.

If the patient does not come to within 2-3 minutes, you must call an ambulance. With prolonged fainting, even after returning to consciousness, the patient may experience some dysfunction.

Fainting should be treated qualified specialists. Neurologists at the CELT clinic are ready to carry out all necessary diagnostics and assign the maximum effective treatment. Modern equipment and highly qualified doctors are the key to patient health.

As a rule, a person’s loss of consciousness is associated with a disruption of the central nervous system. During such an incident, people cannot maintain their balance and fall, unable to move their limbs. Only the presence of convulsions during the period of loss of consciousness is possible. In addition, people in this state do not react to others, are not able to think logically and answer questions from others.

Causes of loss of consciousness:

On this moment There are several reasons why there is a risk of loss of consciousness. Here are the main ones:

The first is a lack of blood flow to areas of the brain;

The second is insufficient nutrition of the brain;

Third, a small percentage of oxygen in the blood;

Fourth - improper operation and the occurrence of uncharacteristic discharges in the brain area.

These and other violations may indicate temporary illnesses or serious problems with health.

Insufficient blood flow to the brain can occur:

1. This reason may be a consequence of too pronounced work of the autonomic system. As a rule, she has such reactions to external stimuli, non-standard situations. As an example, we can name ordinary fear, anxiety, lack of oxygen in a person’s blood.
2. Often, loss of consciousness for this reason occurs due to problems in the field of cardiology. And this happens due to the fact that cardiac blood output decreases. Very often such cases end in myocardium. Fainting can occur as a result of an abnormal rhythm of the heart. The problem can also be caused by frequent nerve impulses, which accompany the atrium and ventricles. After such troubles a person develops various kinds pathology. Interruptions during contractions are especially acute; blood does not flow to this organ in the required quantity in a timely manner. And all this significantly affects the functioning of the brain.

By the way, the doctor may notice some consequences after improper functioning of the patient’s blood inflow and outflow on the cardiogram. It clearly shows irregular nerve processes in the ventricle area. However, they almost never cause loss of consciousness. A person may not notice this problem and live in his usual mode.

1. Very often, cases of loss of consciousness occur in people who long time suffer from low blood pressure. People who have problems using antihypertensive drugs are also at risk. Older people are no exception to this. As a rule, this reason occurs due to a sudden change in body position by a person. For example, he can suddenly stand up, that is, change his position while sitting or lying down. During inactivity of the limbs, a delay in the functioning of blood vessels occurs. With such fast movement, they do not have time to return to the required form. All this causes a decrease in arterial function and blood flow to the brain.
2. Loss of consciousness also occurs due to significant changes in the area large vessels. After all, it is at their expense that the brain is nourished. This trouble causes a disease called. As a result, the walls and gaps in them are fastened in the vessels.
3. Blood clots also often cause frequent loss of consciousness. They can completely or partially block the passage through the vessels. The formation of blood clots is usually associated with many surgical interventions. Often this problem occurs after surgery to replace natural heart valves. Interestingly, blood clots can occur at any age and every person is susceptible to their occurrence. Therefore, people who are at risk of developing such a blockage are often prescribed special medications, which are accepted on an ongoing basis. The second case of the appearance of blood clots in the vessels is characterized by malfunction heart rhythm. In this case, the doctor also prescribes certain medications to take.
4. Loss of consciousness is a consequence. That, in turn, usually occurs due to a severe allergic reaction to any drug of medicinal origin. Can cause loss of consciousness infectious shock, which appears after serious illnesses. This condition for this reason usually causes dilation in the vascular area. That is, the outflow of blood in the heart area increases significantly. This reaction is caused by vasodilating components in the drugs. At the same time, permeability occurs blood capillaries. They begin to function with increasing force. All of the above reasons again disrupt blood flow to the brain.

If a person detects these symptoms, he should immediately seek qualified help from a specialist. He will have to prescribe a series of tests and conduct an examination. Only after receiving all the results will it be possible to talk about an accurate diagnosis. Thus, the patient will have to undergo the following procedures:

• – visiting a specialist in the field of neurology to determine the presence of vascular disease.;
• – visiting a general practitioner to determine the presence of hypotension, that is, a disease that causes low blood pressure. He will also carry out a number of procedures to determine the patient’s tendency to;
• – an ECHO procedure, that is, an ultrasound of the heart, will be mandatory. All this will allow us to determine the presence of defects and insufficiency in the cardiac system;
• – as an option, the patient will be offered Doppler ultrasound. With its help, vessels are examined and the presence of pathologies in them.

Loss of consciousness due to lack of oxygen in the blood occurs with the following diseases and conditions:

1. Loss of consciousness for this reason may occur due to a lack of pure oxygen in the air that a person inhales. Therefore, in stuffy rooms there is often a risk of dizziness and fainting.
2. Many diseases in the lung area, such as bronchial diseases, can cause loss of consciousness. This problem is especially acute for people who suffer from such an illness in chronic form. Frequent urges can cause disruption of the lung mechanism. Thus, there is a significant lack of oxygen during inhalation. During this time, insufficient cardiac output may also occur.
3. is also one of the reasons for frequent loss of consciousness. This is explained by the low hemoglobin content in the blood, but it should not fall below 70 g/l. But fainting can also occur when high content of this substance in the human body. But, as a rule, this occurs only in stuffy rooms.
4. Loss of consciousness often becomes a sign of poisoning of the body with poisonous oxygen oxide. This gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Oxygen oxide can enter the body during heating procedures. For example, during the heating of the stove or due to the lack of hoods when using gas. This gas also comes from the car's exhaust pipe. Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid situations of being in a car without ventilating its cabin. This gas easily enters the human lungs. There it immediately combines with hemoglobin. As a result, the passage of fresh oxygen into the blood begins to close. Thus, in the body there is oxygen starvation. Changes in the functioning of the heart are possible.

To solve the problem of loss of consciousness for this reason, it is necessary to undergo a number of mandatory procedures and tests. Therefore, it is very important:

• - do a general blood test. With its help, you can see the exact number of all cells in a person’s blood, such as hemoglobin and red blood cells. Using the same analysis, it is determined whether the patient has asthma;
• – A mandatory procedure is radiography of the lung area. Here the presence of bronzitis and other diseases, as well as oncological changes, is revealed.;
• - you need to undergo spirography. With its help, the correctness of a person’s breathing and the strength of his exhalations are determined;
• – often requires a visit to a specialist in the field allergic reactions. After all, this condition is often caused by many allergens in the external environment.

Syncope when the metabolism (nutrition) of the brain is disrupted occurs mainly with a disease such as.

1. People who suffer from diabetes can often make mistakes with the correct dosage of insulin into the body. As a result, the blood sugar level significantly decreases, which leads to disruption of brain nutrition. Also for this reason, there is an incorrect flow of nerve impulses.
2. Loss of consciousness is observed not only due to large quantity insulin in the body, but also with its deficiency. Thus, the blood is saturated with a huge mass of glucose, which harms many organs that are associated with these processes. There is a change in metabolism. A person who suffers precisely for such reasons may smell unpleasantly of acetone vapor.

The cause of loss of consciousness can be lactic acid coma. IN in this case diseases associated with The patient's blood begins to become saturated big amount lactic acid. In this case, the smell of acetone is not noticeable.

It is necessary to diagnose the presence of diabetes mellitus in a patient in any case. This happens by donating blood to a laboratory. This test must be taken on an empty stomach. A blood test can tell a lot about a person’s disease. For example, if the analysis reveals an increased glucose content in capillary blood, then insulin does not have strong influence to suppress its production. To clarify the diagnosis, another analysis will be required. First of all, blood is donated on an empty stomach, then the patient is asked to drink a certain dose of glucose solution and the procedure is carried out again. If glucose exceeds the norm, then the person has diabetes.

The presence of glucose can be determined by a urine test. A healthy person cannot have this substance in their sword. To fully determine the diagnosis of diabetes, doctors use hemoglobin measurements after several weeks of certain procedures.

Very often, doctors prescribe an ultrasound scan for their patients. This study will help identify pathologies in the pancreas, see the reasons that caused this disease. This is because the pancreas is responsible for the production of insulin.

Impaired transmission of impulses along brain axons or the occurrence of pathological discharges in brain neurons occurs in the following conditions:

1. This reason very often causes loss of consciousness in a person. He often has seizures that recur with a certain frequency. This occurs due to the discharge of neurons in the brain area. It is fairly easy to determine if a person is having a seizure. At this time, he experiences frequent muscle twitching, they are in a tense state.
2. Loss of consciousness is a characteristic consequence of traumatic brain injury, strong blows head. At the same time, concussions, bruises, and tumors occur in the brain and nearby parts. After such injuries, displacement of areas of the brain hemispheres is observed. Some compression occurs and the intracranial pressure. These processes make it difficult for the brain to function normally. If the blow was minor, the loss of consciousness will pass in a few minutes and will not bring significant changes in the body. At severe injuries the occurrence of edema and ruptures of various vessels is not excluded. If the case is critical, the person may fall into a coma.
3. of any kind, for example, ischemic or hemorrhagic, is one of the causes of frequent loss of consciousness. Both types have a number of differences. Thus, it causes improper blood supply to the cerebral cortex, resulting in blockages. Often people who take large doses of low-quality alcohol or tinctures with a high alcohol content come to this state. The second type occurs due to ruptures of blood vessels in the cerebral cortex. Thus, hemorrhage occurs, which often ends in the death of the patient.

The only thing that both types of strokes have in common is the cause of their occurrence. These diseases are the result of constant surges in blood pressure, when it rises sharply and falls at the same speed. Therefore, it is very important to promptly check for problems in this area.

First aid for loss of consciousness

Every person should have an understanding of providing first aid if a case of loss of consciousness occurs before his eyes. Here are some tips to help save another person's life.

Often a person loses consciousness while in a stuffy room. In this case, a sufficient amount of fresh air ceases to enter the body. This can also happen due to frequent worries and worries. If a person loses consciousness for these reasons, it is necessary to carry out the following measures:

• – release the person’s throat, untie the tie, unfasten the buttons on the collar, remove the scarf;
• - provide air access to the room where the patient is located. You can also take it outside;
• – in order to bring a person to his senses, you need to bring a cotton wool soaked in ammonia to his respiratory tract;
• – if a person cannot come to his senses, you will need to provide him with a safe body position. It is better to turn it over on one side, making sure that the tongue does not sink in. This may cause suffocation. This sign It’s best to check in the first second by opening the patient’s jaws with your fingers or other objects. If necessary, the tongue should be fixed to one of the cheeks of the oral cavity. The main thing that Airways were completely open.
• – it is very important to determine the presence of a pulse in a fainting person and the correctness of his breathing;
• – if the patient has no pulse or breathing, you should try giving him a heart massage or artificial respiration. It is best for this procedure to be performed by a skilled person;
• - You must call an ambulance. When calling, it is necessary to accurately describe all the patient’s symptoms.

There are times when a person does not witness another lose consciousness. In this case, the following measures are required:

• - try to find witnesses who saw the person faint. Perhaps someone knows the cause of this incident. Don't be shy about checking the victim's pockets. Maybe you can find special drugs that will help him come to his senses. People who suffer from chronic diseases often carry medications with them;
• – it is necessary to try to accurately determine the presence possible damage in a man who fainted. In case of bleeding, you should try to stop it before the ambulance arrives;
• – it is important to determine the presence of a pulse and breathing in a person. To feel the pulse, you need to place two fingers on the victim’s thyroid cartilage. Next, your fingers should be lowered a little lower. The pulse should be clearly palpable in this area.
• – there are situations when a person has no pulse and is not breathing, but he remains warm. Then you need to try to check the reaction of the pupils to light. Often a person who is practically in clinical death, responds well to the manifestation of light rays. This can be checked using this method: the eyes of the injured person, closed for eyelids, should be opened. If he is still alive, his pupils will instantly begin to constrict. But it also happens that the patient lies with with open eyes. In this case, they should be covered with your palm or a dark cloth for a few seconds, after which the previous experiment is carried out. If trouble occurs late in the evening or at night, you can use mobile phone or a flashlight. There is another way to test the reaction of a person's eye. To do this, you will need a handkerchief or other soft cloth. You need to touch your eyelids with it. A living person in a forehead state will immediately begin to blink. This natural reaction to an external stimulus.

Often ambulance arrives after a long period of time after her call. But every minute is important if a person is in a faint state. Therefore, it is worth trying to help the victim yourself. Alternatively, mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration or any type of cardiac massage can resume life processes. But there is no need to rush with these methods. Very often they bring great harm to a person, without providing even an ounce of benefit to his health. But they also save a person’s life. While the ambulance is on the way. The main thing is not to overdo it, especially when performing a cardiac massage, as this can lead to complex fractures.

Methods of performing artificial respiration and indirect cardiac massage.

The procedure should begin by placing the patient in comfortable position and release oral cavity from excessive salivation or vomiting. Next, you should throw the person's head back so that the front jaw is slightly extended. If the jaw has been severely clenched, it is necessary to try to open it with improvised objects without causing serious injury to the patient. Only after this the procedure of introducing air into the mouth is carried out. It is also worth trying to use the mouth-to-nose method of introducing air. It is best to perform artificial respiration through a handkerchief. Need to do two deep breaths The patient's nose or mouth should be tightly pinched. After inhaling, you need to press with straight hands on the middle of the person’s sternum. Ten clicks will be enough. The procedure is then repeated according to the same plan. It is best to carry out such artificial respiration and indirect massage hearts for two people at the same time. It is very difficult to cope with this alone. One person inhales and the other presses chest. One or two breaths should be combined with three to five presses.

Conduct this procedure it will take a long time. It will be possible to stop only after the ambulance arrives.

Some people are familiar with the feeling of fainting, which is characterized by loss of consciousness. The types of fainting depend on the causes of its occurrence. The symptoms are similar in many cases. It should be noted that fainting is common during pregnancy, in children, during illness, and especially at times of hunger (hunger fainting). Treatment takes into account the characteristics and causes of the condition.

Fainting occurs due to many factors. Often they lie in a physiological balance that is disrupted at a specific period of time. It should be noted that fainting does not appear until after all the factors for its occurrence have occurred. Fainting appears immediately as a consequence of all favorable conditions for this.

Since readers of the online magazine site may have experienced fainting themselves or observed it in other people, it is necessary to know why it occurs and how to behave if it happens to another person.

What is fainting?

Let's start by defining what fainting is. This momentary loss consciousness, which occurs due to impaired blood circulation in the brain. This condition is temporary. In some cases, it lasts no more than a minute, since blood circulation is quickly restored.

Fainting with loss of consciousness is a protective way for the brain to recover poor blood supply. Oxygen deficiency disrupts metabolic processes. Dizziness and subsequent fainting are often the consequences of some ailment, which specialists can find out about after diagnosing the body. Many illnesses can cause fainting. These include aortic stenosis, anemia, and myocardial infarction.

If a person has a fainting condition or faints, then you should find out why this happened.

Causes of fainting

It is not possible to give the entire list of diseases that cause fainting. A lot of pathologies can develop in the human body, therefore there are also enough factors that provoke loss of consciousness. Often we are talking about disorders in the cardiovascular or nervous systems:

• Decreased cardiac output (angina attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, aortic stenosis).
• Defects nervous regulation capillaries (rapid change of body position).
• Hypoxia.
• Decreased blood pressure when the body does not adapt to the rapid change in blood flow through the capillaries.
• Diseases leading to heart rhythm disturbances. Human body feels oxygen deficiency, which provokes fainting.
• Dilatation of muscle blood vessels as a result of physical activity.
• A decrease in the amount of circulating blood, which is possible with blood loss or dehydration (diarrhea, excessive urination, sweating).
• When swallowing food, coughing or urinating, which indicates a dysfunction of organs in these systems.
• Hyperventilation of the lungs with anemia, low blood sugar or carbon dioxide.
• Micro-strokes in elderly people due to decreased blood supply to certain segments of the brain.
• Dehydration.
• Diabetes.
• Parkinson's disease.
• Vascular disorders in the extremities.
• Medicines that affect blood pressure.
• Brain hemorrhages.
• Migraine-like conditions.
• Pre-stroke conditions.
• Heart rhythm abnormality: either fast or slow.
• Aortic stenosis (dysfunction of the heart valves).
• High pressure in the arteries or capillaries.
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Aortic dissection.
• Epileptic seizures, which are associated with the functioning of the brain.

Types of fainting

There is no officially accepted classification of types of fainting. However, you can distinguish them independently according to the factors of their occurrence:

• Somatogenic. Associated with dysfunction internal organs. Happens:

1. Cardiogenic – with heart pathologies, when not enough blood is ejected from the left ventricle. It is observed with narrowing of the aorta and arrhythmias.
2. Hypoglycemic – with a decrease in blood glucose. Observed when diabetes mellitus, starvation, tumor processes, hypothalamic insufficiency, fructose intolerance.
3. Anemic - with low hemoglobin or red blood cell counts due to blood diseases.
4. Respiratory – with a decrease in lung capacity, which is observed with various diseases of this organ, for example, with emphysema, whooping cough, bronchial asthma.

• Neurogenic. Associated with nervous processes, often with the functioning of receptors. The reflex system activates the parasympathetic nervous system and inhibits the sympathetic one. Blood is retained in the muscles and is not delivered to the brain as a result of the corresponding processes. Here they highlight:

1. Painful fainting.
2. Irritative – irritation of receptors of internal organs.
3. Dyscirculatory – defects in neurological diseases in the regulation of capillary tone.
4. Maladaptive – adaptive dysfunction of the body (intensive physical stress, overheating).
5. Orthostatic – insufficient effect on the capillaries of the lower extremities.
6. Associative - reminiscent of the experience of situations of past fainting states.
7. Emotional – due to strong emotional experiences. It is characteristic of persons prone to hysteria and suffering from neurosis-like conditions.

• Extreme. Associated with extreme situations when the body is forced to mobilize strength. Happens:

1. Hypovolemic - with blood loss or dehydration.
2. Hypoxic – with a lack of oxygen, for example, in the mountains.
3. Hyperbaric – when under high pressure.
4. Intoxication - in case of poisoning of the body, for example, carbon monoxide, alcohol or dyes.
5. Iatrogenic, or medicinal, - in case of overdose of certain medications.

• Multifactorial – a combination of several factors.

Symptoms of fainting

Presyncope is accompanied by certain symptoms, which manifest themselves in different combinations in different people. This is not fainting yet, but it can lead to it. Symptoms of presyncope are:

• Lightheadedness.
• Goosebumps or veils before the eyes.
• Nausea.
• Tinnitus.
• Yawn.
• Sudden weakness.
• Legs wobbly, weak and unruly.
• Premonition of impending fainting.
• Numbness of the tongue and fingertips.
• Lump in throat.
• Air shortage.
• Anxiety.

When fainting occurs, it is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. Cold sweat.
2. Light blush.
3. Dilated pupils that respond slowly to light.
4. Pale skin.
5. Decreased muscle tone.
6. Ash gray skin color.
7. Weakness of pulse.
8. Fast or slow heartbeat.
9. Reduced or completely absent reflex reactions.

The average duration of fainting is from a few seconds to a minute. Duration of more than 4-5 minutes is accompanied by convulsions, increased sweating and possible spontaneous urination.

When you faint, consciousness suddenly turns off. However, it may be preceded by a faint state, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Noise in ears.
• Dizziness.
• Acute weakness.
• Numbness of the limbs.
• "Vacuum" in the head.
• Yawn.
• Nausea.
• Darkening in the eyes.
• Sweating.
• Paleness of facial skin.

Fainting occurs more often in a standing position, less often in a sitting position. It goes away quickly when lying down.

After recovering from a fainting state, a person may experience the following symptoms within 2 hours: headaches, weakness, increased sweating.

Thus, there are 3 phases of fainting:

1. Pre-fainting (lipothymia) - lasts 30 seconds - 1 minute before fainting. Sometimes this is where it all ends if the person takes a lying position.
2. Fainting – can occur without presyncope. You can feel the ground leaving under your feet, gradually sliding down, weakening your muscles. Failure to restore blood supply to the brain within 20 seconds is accompanied by spontaneous bowel movements, urination, or convulsions.
3. Post-syncope state (post-syncope stage) – gradual return of consciousness. Restores vision, hearing and sensation own body. Orientation in time, space and one’s personality is restored. A person experiences fear, fatigue, weakness, accelerates heartbeat, breathing quickens.

Fainting during pregnancy

Many girls and women dream of getting pregnant and becoming mothers. However, there are frequent cases of fainting during pregnancy. Why is such a happy period overshadowed by fainting states? Not every woman experiences them, but they are quite common.

Fainting is often attributed to low blood pressure, which can be caused by:

• Stifling.
• Overwork.
• Emotional instability.
• Various respiratory pathologies.
• Hunger.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases.

The enlarging uterus begins to put pressure on the capillaries that are nearby. This leads to a decrease in blood flow into lower limbs, pelvic and back organs. Lying down can make things worse. This leads to a drop in pressure.

Also occurs during pregnancy physiological changes. The amount of blood increases by 35%, which can also lead to fainting until the body adapts.

The amount of blood increases due to an increase in plasma volume. In this case, the blood becomes thin due to the low number of red blood cells. It leads to low level hemoglobin and, accordingly, anemia.

Low glucose levels also affect the condition of a pregnant woman. Improper or inadequate nutrition is a consequence of toxicosis. Because of this, microelements decrease in quantity, which leads to fainting.

Fainting in children

Conditions become quite disturbing when fainting occurs in children. Moms want to know why this happens to their children, as well as what to do in such situations. Let's try to figure it out.

The cause of fainting in a child may be:

• Emotional turmoil.
• Hunger.
• A stuffy room in which the child spent time in a standing position.
• Strong pain.
• Frequent deep breathing.
• Blood loss.
• Infectious diseases.
• Disturbances in the functioning of the ganglion nervous system.
• Low blood pressure.
• Quickly change body position from lying to standing.
• Brain injuries.
• Disturbance of the myocardial conduction system.
• Atrioventricular block (Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome), which is accompanied by convulsive attacks, fainting, bluish skin and pallor. It often comes at night and goes away on its own.

What can parents do if their child faints?

1. Place the baby on the bed.
2. Remove the pillow from under your head and raise your legs 30°.
3. Provide Fresh air and its flow to the body: unbutton tight clothes, remove them from your throat, open a window, etc.
4. Bring to consciousness with various irritants: mother’s perfume, ammonia, splashes of cold water or rubbing the ears.

When the baby regains consciousness, you need to let him lie down for 10-20 minutes, then give him sweet tea.

Hungry faint

Frequent fainting occurs in women who exhaust themselves with strict diets and hunger strikes. Wanting to become beautiful, many forget about physiological characteristics body, which must receive carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the required quantities every day. Hungry fainting occurs after exhausting diets, when there is a deficiency of some element in the body.

Since the body does not receive enough fat, protein or carbohydrates, it is forced to change metabolic functions to replenish itself. Reserves exist, but not in all systems. First of all, the nervous system suffers, as it does not receive enough of the necessary elements.

Stress can also cause hungry fainting. When the body is under stress, it activates all its energy reserves. Blood pressure rises, blood flow occurs to to the necessary authorities for survival. If the brain does not receive enough of the necessary elements, then fainting occurs.

Factors of hungry fainting also include excessive physical exercise when the body uses up all available elements. Their deficiency primarily affects the functioning of the brain.

Treatment of fainting

When fainting occurs, the most important task is to eliminate the cause that caused it. For example, extreme syncope requires only avoidance of the corresponding stressful situation, and hungry fainting is corrected by observing good nutrition. Treatment in rare cases requires a medication approach.

First of all, first aid is given to restore hemodynamics. For this purpose the body is given horizontal position, and the legs rise slightly above the head.

Pharmacological assistance is necessary only in cases where fainting states are a consequence of dysfunction individual systems body, for example, heart pathology or disorders of the nervous system. Prior to this, people who experience fainting conditions are taught various measures how to behave when it occurs:

1. Clench your palms into fists.
2. Cross the lower limbs.
3. Take as horizontal a position as possible.

Bottom line

Fainting is a quickly occurring consequence of some unhealthy condition. There is no need to worry about its occurrence, since we are talking only about disruptions in work circulatory system. If you consult a doctor for medical care, then you can quickly establish the causes of your condition.

Close relatives should know what to do in a situation where others faint. This condition is reversible. However, treatment should not be ignored, especially when it comes to disorders and pathologies in the body.

Thank you

In this article we'll talk about a condition that occurs in approximately thirty percent healthy people at least once during their entire life. This - loss of consciousness. Loss of consciousness is a condition during which a person lies motionless, does not respond to questions and does not perceive what is happening... the site) will help you find out from this article.

Loss of consciousness is light form acute vascular brain failure. It is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. When there is a loss of consciousness, a violation occurs nervous activity. This violation is accompanied by a cessation or a significant decrease in the body’s response to external irritation and to a person’s perception of the sensations of his own body.

What are the causes of loss of consciousness?

Brain damage may result from direct exposure. This could be a head injury, hemorrhage, electrical injury, poisoning. It is quite possible that the brain may be damaged by indirect exposure. This may be bleeding, fainting, shock, heart disease. Very often, people lose consciousness when exposed to heat or cold for a long time. For example, when heatstroke or freezing. Loss of consciousness can also occur if there is insufficient oxygen in a person’s blood. Most often this happens due to suffocation or poisoning. Metabolic disorders due to fever or diabetes can also cause loss of consciousness.

Signs

The person begins to turn pale, his pulse weakens, and his blood pressure decreases. The eyes first wander, then close, and a loss of consciousness occurs, which lasts for ten seconds. At this moment, muscle tone weakens and the person falls. After this, the person gradually begins to regain consciousness, his eyes open, breathing and cardiac activity stabilize. After a person comes to his senses, he remains alarmed for some time. He suffers from headache, weakness and malaise.

Types of loss of consciousness

Treatment

Reviews

A month ago I was riding on a swing with a friend (very hard). I feel like my legs have come off the swing. I’m starting to come to my senses, the picture is becoming more accurate, but I can’t lift a finger or even move the pupil of my eye!!! And in the back and head there is a strong, but some kind of dull pain. It turned out that when I fell, I lost consciousness... Those who were nearby (my friends) told me that before I began to “come to my senses” I lay there for 30-60 seconds, not counting the moment when I started " see". The situation was also saved by the fact that I did not fall straight, but “rolled” with my back on the ground. Appeared with my back a big problem... But I was surprised that there was no concussion, although for the first minute I had a terrible headache! Could this be? Answer who knows. Thank you in advance!

Since the 5th grade, I have periodically experienced loss of consciousness. this may be once a year. maybe two or three times. This mainly occurs in the morning while lying in bed and can be repeated several times in a row. I was examined by specialists, luminaries, and no one can determine anything. They say you need to do this during an attack. And how can this be done? After all, this can happen both at home and on the street. But amazing. what I feel. I feel like I’m about to fall: I feel nauseous and dizzy. The attack really only lasts a couple of seconds. Previously, during an attack, I was all wet. and then the vomiting started. It is typical that during an attack I always lie down on my stomach and my head is turned to the right, otherwise I cannot lie down. Thank you for reading my sad message. I don't know who can help me.