Why do women faint? Why people faint: causes, possible diseases, treatment. Brief loss of consciousness

Fainting is a short absence of consciousness caused by a sudden disruption of blood circulation in the brain. This happens because the brain does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. Fainting differs from complete fainting in that it lasts on average no longer than five minutes. Impaired blood flow can be caused by many factors, including various disorders of cardio-vascular system, inflammatory or infectious processes. In addition, short-term loss of consciousness is often observed in girls during their first menstruation. According to statistics, half of the world's population has encountered such a disorder at least once in their life. Doctors say that less than half of all such cases are of unknown nature.

Before losing consciousness, many people feel unwell, severe dizziness, and increased sweating. Fainting can be avoided; you just need to sit down in time; if you don’t do this, you will fall. Usually a person quickly comes to his senses, often without the help of others. Quite often, fainting is accompanied by injuries that a person receives directly during a fall. Slightly less often, a person experiences short-term, moderate-intensity seizures or urinary incontinence.

Normal syncope should be distinguished from epileptic syncope, although it can also be caused by some factors related to short-term loss of consciousness, for example, menstruation in women or the sleep phase. During epileptic syncope, a person immediately experiences intense convulsions.

Etiology

There are several reasons why people faint, but despite this, in almost half of the cases it is not possible to determine the factor causing such a disorder. Sources of insufficient blood flow to the brain can be:

• disorders of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system;
• sharp increase intracranial pressure;
• intoxication caused by gas poisoning, nicotine, alcoholic drinks, household chemicals, plant care products, etc.;
• strong emotional changes;
• sudden drop in blood pressure;
• lack of glucose in the body;
• insufficient amount of hemoglobin;
• air pollution;
• change of body position. Loss of consciousness occurs when suddenly rising to your feet from a lying or sitting position;
• specific effects on the human body, including prolonged exposure to hot temperatures or increased atmospheric pressure;
• age category - in adults, fainting can occur when urinating or diarrhea, in teenagers, in particular in girls, fainting occurs during menstruation, and in older people, loss of consciousness can occur during sleep.

According to statistics, it is women who often faint, since they are most susceptible to changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure. Very often, while watching their figure, female representatives follow strict diets or refuse food altogether, which leads to hungry fainting.

The causes of fainting in children and adolescents occur in the following cases:

• from severe fear or anxiety, for example, while speaking in front of a crowded audience or visiting the dentist;
• when overworked from physical exertion or mental activity;
• associated with injuries and, as a result, severe pain. This mainly happens with fractures;
• at the first onset of menstruation, girls are often accompanied by severe dizziness, lack of air, leading to fainting;
• frequent extreme situations that attract young girls and boys so much;
• from prolonged fasting or strict diets.

To suddenly faint a few minutes after a night's sleep may be due to excessive drinking the night before, or because the brain is not fully awake. In addition, in women over fifty, fainting can be caused by a condition such as cessation of menstruation.

Varieties

Depending on the factors influencing the occurrence, the following types of fainting are distinguished:

• neurogenic in nature, which, in turn, are:
• vasodepressor – arising against the background of emotional changes and stressful situations. Very often manifests itself at the sight of blood in particularly impressionable people;
• orthostatic – expressed due to a sudden change in body position or taking certain medications. This group includes loss of consciousness from wearing tight or uncomfortable clothing, in particular tight collars of outerwear, as well as fainting in men and women who experience urinary incontinence during sleep, coughing, or when passing feces;
• maladaptive - arise due to non-adaptation to environmental conditions, for example, in too hot or cold climates;
• hyperventilation direction– appear from severe fear or panic;
• somatogenic– the causes of which directly depend on functioning disorders internal organs, with the exception of the brain. There are cardiogenic fainting - occurring due to heart pathologies, anemic - developing due to reduced level and, as well as hypoglycemic - associated with insufficiency of glucose in the blood;
• extreme nature, which are:
• hypoxic, resulting from a lack of oxygen in the air;
• hypovolemic – appearing due to heavy blood loss, menstruation, extensive burns;
• intoxication – developing due to various poisonings;
• medicinal – taking medications that lower blood pressure;
• hyperbaric - the occurrence factor is increased atmospheric pressure.

Symptoms

The appearance of such a disturbance of consciousness is preceded by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations. Thus, the symptoms of fainting are:

• sudden onset of weakness;
• noise in ears;
• strong pulsation in the temples;
• heaviness in the back of the head;
• decreased visual acuity;
• pale skin, often the appearance of a gray tint;
• the appearance of nausea;
• abdominal cramps precede loss of consciousness during menstruation;
• excessive sweating.

The pulse of a person who has fainted is palpable weakly, the pupils practically do not react to light.

This condition very rarely lasts more than five minutes, but in cases where it takes longer, fainting with convulsions and seizures is observed. Thus, a short-term loss of consciousness becomes a deep faint. Besides this, some people fall into quitrent with their eyes open, in which case the best solution Cover them with your hand or cloth to prevent them from becoming dry. After fainting, a person feels drowsy, slightly dizzy and confused. Such sensations go away on their own, but the victim still needs to see a doctor, especially if he was injured during a fall.

Diagnostics

Despite the fact that fainting often goes away on its own, diagnosis and treatment are necessary, because this condition is often a symptom of various diseases that may threaten a person’s health and life. In addition, it is not always clear why fainting occurs, and diagnostics will help determine the causes of the occurrence.

The first stage of diagnosis consists of identifying possible pronounced causes of fainting, for example, menstruation, working conditions, sleep phase, poisoning or environmental pollution. The doctor needs to find out whether the patient has taken any medications and whether an overdose has occurred.

Next, it is necessary to examine the patient, but symptoms will not always be identified. If a person is taken to a medical facility immediately after fainting, he will experience inhibition and slowness of reaction, as if after sleep, and answers to any questions will be delayed. In addition, the doctor cannot help but notice an increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure.

Then the patient needs to take a blood test, which will confirm or refute the deficiency of glucose, red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Hardware diagnostics consists of undergoing examinations of various internal organs, since it is not always clear why fainting occurs, and if the problem is hidden in malfunction one or more internal organs, then radiography, ultrasound, ECG, MRI and other methods will help detect this.

In addition, additional consultations with a cardiologist may be necessary - if heart problems have been detected, a gynecologist - in case of loss of consciousness during menstruation, and a specialist such as a neurologist.

Treatment

Before contacting specialists who will provide proper therapy, the first step is to provide the victim with first aid. Therefore, a person who is nearby at such a moment should know what to do in case of fainting. First aid methods involve carrying out such activities.

Loss of consciousness is a symptom of many diseases. Sometimes it is a consequence of an acute transient lack of blood circulation in the brain and then we are talking about “syncope”, and sometimes it is a sign of much more serious events in the body. Regardless of the reasons, any loss of consciousness frightens others who, panicking, begin to make mistakes when providing first aid. How will be correct? To do this, it is worth understanding why loss of consciousness occurs.

There are many reasons for loss of consciousness, but they can be combined into 4 large groups:

• due to insufficient blood flow to the brain;
• due to decreased blood oxygen saturation;
• due to metabolic disorders (deterioration of brain nutrition);
• due to a disruption in the transmission of impulses along nerve fibers in the brain or the emergence of pathological foci of excitation in it.

Loss of consciousness due to insufficient inflow occurs:

• As a result pathological reaction nervous system to emerging stimuli (fear, fatigue). At this moment, the blood vessels in the brain expand, the pressure in them drops, the speed of blood flow slows down, as a result of which the nutrition of the brain structures sharply deteriorates.
• For heart diseases. This is due to sharp decrease cardiac output when various kinds arrhythmias, blockade.
• At orthostatic hypotension, in which a person loses consciousness at the moment of a sharp transition from a horizontal position to a vertical one. This is due to a violation of pressure regulation, in which the blood does not have time to be redistributed from lower limbs to other areas of the body, including the brain.
• In any form of shock, when there is a sudden disruption of blood flow to all organs.

Loss of consciousness due to lack of oxygen in the blood occurs in the following situations:

• long stay in a stuffy room;
• severe diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
• poisoning with poisons that block hemoglobin (carbon monoxide);
• anemia with sharp

- This is the most common “metabolic” cause of loss of consciousness. This disease, if not adequately treated, can easily lead to severe metabolic disorders and coma.

Pathological foci in the brain occur when. This is the only type of loss of consciousness in which a person retains motor activity. , are these states accompanied by a sharp violation nutrition of cells and their destruction, lead to loss of consciousness due to the cessation of transmission nerve impulses.

Most often, loss of consciousness occurs in the following situations:

• ventricular tachycardia – 11%;
• weakness syndrome sinus node – 3%;
• bradycardia, atrioventricular block II-III degree – 3%;
• supraventricular tachycardia – 3%;
• aortic stenosis – 2%;
• epilepsy – 2%;
• transient ischemic attack – 2%.

Diagnostics

Loss of consciousness itself is not difficult to diagnose - lack of response to external stimuli, including pain, complete immobility (except convulsive syndrome) allow us to clearly identify the problem. But determining the cause is sometimes quite difficult. For this purpose, all diagnostic studies that traditional science is capable of are used:

• medical history examination, during which it is possible to identify the presence of diseases that can lead to loss of consciousness or the use of medications that lower blood pressure or affect the functions of the nervous system; in addition, if possible, the provoking factor is determined - a sharp rise, staying in a stuffy room, heat, physical stress, etc.
• laboratory research:
  • A complete blood count can detect severe anemia;
  • a glucose test helps determine whether the patient has developed hypo- or hyperglycemia;
  • A blood oxygen saturation test helps identify problems that are preventing adequate oxygenation.
• Instrumental studies:
  • an electrocardiogram allows you to detect the presence of cardiac arrhythmias and blockades; It is also possible to carry out an “advanced” version of the ECG - Holter heart rate monitoring;
  • the heart, which can reveal changes in cardiac contractility and determine the condition of the valve apparatus;
  • Dopplerography of the carotid arteries, which allows you to detect obstacles to blood flow in these vessels;
  • and helps identify damage to brain tissue.

If you faint, first aid should be provided immediately, as the cause of this condition is often unknown, but can be very serious. An unconscious person should be taken out of a stuffy room to Fresh air. You need to unbutton your shirt collar. Check for a pulse carotid artery and spontaneous (independent) breathing. If they are present, then bring a cotton wool moistened to the nasal passages. ammonia.

Attention! Do not move the victim unless you can rule out serious injury (fall from height, car accident). A person may have a broken spine, and each extra movement increases the risk of disability or death.

If the patient does not regain consciousness, it is necessary to lay him on his side in a safe position. This is necessary in order to prevent the tongue from retracting. In addition, in this state, vomiting is quite common, and a person may choke on the vomit. The only exception is convulsions, during which the patient cannot be moved. Instead, you just need to insure his head so that he doesn’t break it on hard objects and surfaces.

Attention! Never try to give any pills or liquids to an unconscious person! In such patients, the swallowing reflex is sharply reduced, so the medicine can enter the respiratory tract, causing asphyxia.

After the person comes to his senses, it is advisable to take him to the hospital for further diagnostics and treatment. However, if the fainting continues for more than 5 minutes, then most likely the cause is quite serious, and one cannot wait for the restoration of consciousness.

Attention! Do not give nitroglycerin to a person who has regained consciousness if he does not complain of heart pain! This may cause a sharp decline blood pressure and repeated loss of consciousness. Practice shows that most fainting occurs against the background of sudden hypotension, in which nitrate-containing drugs are absolutely contraindicated.

If, along with loss of consciousness, the patient experiences cessation of breathing and heartbeat, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started immediately. You shouldn’t think that you can cope with this difficult task if everything you know about it is gleaned from American films. There is a clear algorithm for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and it is best to study it in advance under the guidance of an experienced emergency physician or paramedic of the same service.

Loss of consciousness is a rather formidable symptom, indicating the presence of a serious problem in the body. First aid should begin immediately - the “rescuer” has no time to panic. The faster you return to normal and get to work, the greater the patient’s chances of survival.

Bozbey Gennady Andreevich, emergency physician

Fainting is not a separate pathology or diagnosis; it is a lack of consciousness for a short period of time, provoked by a disruption in the blood supply to the brain.

The state of fainting occurs from a small amount of oxygen and nutrients supplied to the brain.

This condition can affect both adults and children, regardless of gender.

The consequence of sudden brain hypoxia is accompanied by disorders vegetative-vascular system and suppression of reflexes. This state of character causes a short-term loss of consciousness.

In most cases, fainting occurs unexpectedly and lasts for a few seconds. For an accurate diagnosis of the disease that caused this state, you need to go to the hospital for additional laboratory and hardware tests of the body.

Fact! The first description of such a condition as fainting was described back in antiquity and belongs to the ancient doctor Artey. The Greek name for fainting is syncope, so fainting may also be referred to as syncope.

What is fainting?

It is important for parents and doctors to determine what may cause you to faint and examine the body for possible pathological conditions.

Fact! Constant fainting is the cause of serious traumatic situations.

In the vast majority of cases, the following external factors affecting the body can provoke fainting in women and men:

Heat most often contributes to a person losing consciousness. There is no specific temperature level - it is individual for everyone, this can happen at forty degrees, and at 20-25, depending on acclimatization and the conditions to which the human body is accustomed.

Very often, due to the heat, people faint in unventilated rooms and transport; in the latter case, loss of consciousness can also be provoked by severe pressure and unpleasant odors.

Prolonged absence drinking water, or food. Following strict diets, or not eating the food the body needs for a long period of time can lead to fainting.

This happens due to the fact that the body is not saturated with nutrients in sufficient quantities, which disrupts the composition of the blood, which subsequently leads to malnutrition of the brain.

Also, fainting can provoke diarrhea, with severe vomiting or loss of body fluids (excessive sweating, constant urination).

Feeling anxious, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of breaths.

Abrupt change in body position from lying to vertical– sudden darkening of the eyes if a person suddenly stands up.

Gestation period. Registration of fainting during pregnancy occurs quite often (frequent temporary loss of consciousness is one of the first signs of embryo conception).

Since in the body of a woman carrying a child, serious hormonal changes, accompanied by heat in environment, or hunger - a drop in blood pressure occurs, leading to loss of consciousness.

Strong physical painful sensations , subsequently traumatic situations.

Shock, or states of fear.

Pain shock.

Intoxication of the body as a result of food poisoning, or drunkenness. How more quantity alcohol - the greater the risk of fainting.

Psycho-emotional stress. Stressful situations or sudden terrible news can throw a person into shock, which can lead to the person fainting.

There are also some pathological conditions of the body in which people tend to lose consciousness.

These include:

• Frequent syncope in childhood may indicate progression serious pathologies. Most often, children lose consciousness when accompanied by disruptions in the rhythm of heart contractions, which are difficult to suspect at this age;
• Dangerous pathological condition of the heart or blood vessels– these include the death of cardiac muscle tissue, internal hemorrhages, etc.;
• Decreased blood supply to certain areas of the brain, called micro (small) stroke. More often observed in elderly patients;
• Tumors localized in the brain, compressing blood vessels, which leads to blood flow disturbances;
• Anemic conditions, in which there is a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, which transports oxygen;
• Rapid blood loss. Sudden fainting occurs not only when big losses blood, and also with the rapid release of biological material from the bloodstream;
• Sudden and voluminous blood loss;
• At the sight of blood or wounds. According to statistics, fainting at the sight of blood or wounds is more common among the male half of the population. Girls endure this with anxiety, but are less likely to lose consciousness;
• Cranial-brain injuries. Concussions and head bruises can be caused by loss of consciousness. In cases of skull trauma, syncope is the main criterion for diagnosing the severity of concussion;
• Decline in blood pressure (BP), occurs when there are disorders of the autonomic nervous system, when it is not able to perform the tasks assigned to it in full. Fainting often occurs in adolescence, accompanied by vegetative-vascular dystonia. hypotonic type, or in adolescents, during puberty, accompanied by extrasystole (disruption of the normal rhythm of heart contractions);
• Lung pathologies. With bronchial asthma, there is a disruption in the exchange of gases between the lungs and tissues, which leads to insufficient saturation of the body with oxygen. Overlapping of the vessels supplying the brain or heart also leads to brain hypoxia;
• Decreased blood glucose levels, which can occur as a pathological condition, or an overdose of insulin, in a patient with diabetes mellitus;
• When swallowed in conjunction with a pathological condition of the esophagus– in this case, a reflex reaction is observed, provoked by an irritating effect on the vagus nerve;
• Vascular diseases. Atherosclerotic deposits and narrowing of the arteries of the cervical spine and brain lead to a failure of blood circulation in the cranial cavity;
• Decline in hydrocarbon saturation which leads to constriction of blood vessels in the brain;
• Urine discharge and coughing attacks. These processes lead to fainting due to the fact that pressure in the chest increases, and the ejection of blood by the heart is limited and blood pressure drops;
• Side effects of certain medications, or overdose;
• Certain thyroid diseases, in which the normal production of hormones is disrupted.

All of the above reasons can lead to a person losing consciousness.

Reasons for women

Today, against the background of absolute health, women can faint for the following reasons:

What is the difference between fainting and loss of consciousness?

The main difference between fainting and complete loss of consciousness is the duration of this condition.

IN In both cases, there is a sudden loss of consciousness, only in the case of fainting the duration is several seconds (minutes), and if the person has completely lost consciousness, the duration will be more than five minutes.

IN in some cases a sudden short loss of consciousness is recorded in girls (girls) at the first menstruation.

In such conditions, disturbances in blood circulation can be provoked by many factors, from disorders and pathological conditions of internal processes, to exposure external factors, such as heat, lack of oxygen and others.

Fact! According to statistics, almost half of the entire population of our planet has experienced fainting at least once. And about forty percent of registered fainting occurs for unknown reasons.

In addition, thrombosis of blood vessels or their ruptures can cause ischemic strokes, or hemorrhagic types, which are inherent in the state when you lose consciousness.

The main causes of epileptic seizures are disorders of the cerebral cortex that disrupt normal arousal nerve cells cerebral cortex. As a result, the balance of excitation and inhibition is disrupted, and metabolic processes also fail.

Main factors and what is the difference between fainting and total loss consciousness.

Symptoms of fainting

It is important to distinguish the symptoms of fainting from loss of consciousness provoked by pathological conditions.

The main signs of fainting are as follows:

• “I often fall”, “I’m not feeling well”, “I’m losing ground under my feet” - this is how the patient himself can characterize his condition;
• Nausea, possible vomiting;
• Cold sweat;
• Headache, dizziness;
• General state of fatigue;
• Pale skin;
• Feeling of tinnitus;
• "Floaters" before the eyes;
• An unconscious state with the inherent grayness of the facial skin, with weak blood pressure (usually accelerated), but there may also be a slow pulse. There are wide pupils that react to light with a delay.

In order to accurately distinguish a fainting state from epileptic and hysterical seizures, you need to know the main distinguishing factors recorded in the table below.

Why is fainting dangerous?

If the provocateurs of fainting are physiological influences on the body, then, in this case, the most dangerous are the consequences.

This is easy to explain: a person can be taken out into the fresh air, brought back to normal, stress, shock, etc. eliminated, after which his condition is completely normalized.

If a person briefly loses consciousness due to poisoning (nausea, pallor, and also diarrhea), or an overdose of drugs, then it is quite easy to restore it.

If the reason lies in pathological condition body, urgent and correct diagnosis primary disease, since fainting may be only a minor symptom of some pathology.

Fact! After any fainting it is better to pass full inspection see a doctor to exclude or diagnose diseases.

First aid for unconsciousness

In most cases, if a person falls unconscious, they do not call an ambulance (if there are no injuries caused by the fall and the normal state is restored).

The algorithm for providing assistance in case of loss of consciousness is given below:

• Sprinkle your face with cool water;
• Place the victim on his back, placing your feet above head level;
• Loosen your tie, belt, shirt collar and anything that is constricting and preventing you from breathing normally.;
• Ammonia. After a sudden fall of consciousness, the use of ammonia is effective. However, it is worth remembering that excessive inhalation of its vapors can lead to respiratory arrest. This suggests that cotton wool soaked in alcohol should not be brought too close to the victim’s sinuses.

Providing assistance consists of restoring normal heart rhythm and treating consequences (injuries, bruises, etc.).

If the victim does not regain consciousness within 2-5 minutes, immediately call an ambulance.

In this case, an epileptic or hysterical seizure may occur. In the latter case, people who are prone to hysterics are able to fake fainting.

If the actions when a person fell from sudden fainting without visible reasons, and first aid does not work on him, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

Diagnostics

After sudden fainting, it is necessary to conduct an examination that will help accurately diagnose primary disease, or confirm the absence of that.

Initially, carry out a primary examination, during which the pulse is measured (on both hands), heart sounds are listened to, and possible neurological disorders reflexes, test the autonomic nervous system.

Only a qualified neurologist can conduct a high-quality examination.

Additional laboratory and instrumental methods for studying the body during fainting are the following:

• Clinical blood test. It will show the general health of the patient, and deviations from the norm of the elements that saturate the blood. Blood is taken from a finger or vein in the morning and on an empty stomach;
• Blood chemistry. An extensive blood test that will help determine the condition of almost all organs of the body. By fluctuations in indicators in one direction or another, it is possible to determine not only the affected organ, but also the extent of its damage. They take this test on an empty stomach, in the morning, providing blood from a vein or finger;
• General analysis urine. With this test, doctors monitor the levels of protein and red blood cells in the urine;
• Examination by an ophthalmologist, on which visual fields are determined and the fundus is examined ;
• Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of cerebral vessels. A study with which you can visually see the condition of the vessels, determine their passage width, and diagnose possible compression of the vessels;
• Angiography of the head and spinal cord . Injected into the vessels contrast agent, after which an x-ray of the skull is performed;
• Dopplerography. Is additional research to ultrasound, which is used to determine the speed of blood flow in the vessels;
• Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head and cervical spine. The use of Dopplerography and ultrasound simultaneously, which gives the most accurate results research;
• Echoencephaloscopy (EchoES) – a method for studying intracranial pathologies, which is based on echolocation of brain structures;
• Electroencephalography (EEG) - recording of electrical waves characterized by a certain rhythm;
• MRI of the brain and spinal cord. Provides complete information on the state of the body and describes in detail the condition of the brain and spinal cord.

All of the above methods of studying the body are chosen exclusively by the attending physician, based on examination and suspicion of certain diseases.

Treatment of fainting

The use of one or another type of treatment depends on what caused the fainting.

If the provocateurs are physiological factors(stress, lack of food or water, stuffy room, heat, etc.), then it is enough to simply eliminate them to normalize the victim’s condition.

If the trigger is low blood pressure, then treatment is to display and record high blood pressure readings, after which the condition returns to normal.

Various causes of congestive conditions, treated different ways. A qualified doctor will help you choose a treatment method.

Prevention

Preventive actions include proper nutrition, with saturating the body with diverse vitamins and minerals, maintaining water balance, reducing time spent in stuffy rooms and in the heat, eliminating bad habits and a more active lifestyle.

What's the forecast?

Forecasting in this case depends on the root cause that resulted in a temporary loss of consciousness for a short period of time.

Since the range of provoking factors is quite diverse, then accurate forecast can only do experienced doctor based on examination and examination of the body.

Do not self-medicate and be healthy!

Losing consciousness is a problem that can happen to anyone. There are various reasons for its occurrence, for example, acute oxygen starvation of the brain. This condition can be one of the signs of various diseases, sometimes even the most serious ones. Regardless of the cause of the unconscious state, such phenomena greatly frighten others and the person himself who finds himself in this situation.

In this article we will try to understand what loss of consciousness is, what causes contribute to the onset of this phenomenon and how to deal with it.

Loss of consciousness is a condition that occurs due to insufficient access of oxygen to the hemispheres of the brain, which leads to dysfunction of the nervous system. In this case, the person falls and stops reacting to the environment, after which he comes to his senses spontaneously. There are several varieties of this condition:

• confused - clouding of reason, manifestation of delirium and indifference to the surrounding world;
• soporous – deeply depressed consciousness with preserved reflexes;
• deafening - drowsiness, a sharp decrease in the level of wakefulness;
• stupor – numbness, immobility;
• fainting– a short-term unconscious state that lasts from a few seconds to half an hour;
• comatose– profound loss of consciousness caused by dysfunction of the brain.

Symptoms

Among the signs of pre-fainting, the following are noted:

• flashing “flies” before the eyes;
• feeling of nausea;
• dizziness;
• cardiopalmus;
• pulsation in temples;
• weakness;
• cold sweat;
• blurred vision.

It is at this time that emergency medical care is necessary to prevent the victim from losing consciousness. However, fainting often occurs suddenly, and therefore its approach is unnoticeable to others. The following happens:

• dilation and slowing of the reaction of the pupils to light;
• loss of balance and sudden fall;
• muscle relaxation;
• eye rolling;
• pale skin tone or bluish discoloration;
• dulling of pain;
• seizures;
• lack of response to stimuli;
• convulsions and twitching of limbs.

In addition, there are cases when the victim experiences involuntary loss of urine. When a person comes to his senses, he feels weak, overwhelmed and drowsy.

Common reasons

There are many factors that provoke loss of consciousness. A sudden decrease in blood circulation in the cerebral hemispheres is caused by:

1. Pathological response of the central nervous system to stress(fear, fatigue). In this case, the choroid plexus expands, the pressure suddenly decreases, and blood circulation slows down. As a result, the nutrition of brain structures deteriorates.
2. Heart diseases. This is associated with reduced activity of cardiac output during manifestations of arrhythmia, blockade and other similar ailments.
3. Orthostatic hypotension. In this case, you may lose consciousness when suddenly moving from a lying position to a standing position (for example, when standing up). Blood may not have time to move from the lower extremities to other areas, including the brain.
4. Shock and acute pain. Stressful situation and the sudden onset of an unpleasant sensation contribute to the disruption of blood flow to the organs.

Speaking about other causes of loss of consciousness, it should be noted situational fainting. It occurs as a result of the vasovagal reaction - a reflex of the central nervous system, leading to a slowing of the pulse and dilation of the vessels of the lower extremities. This type of syncope is often called vasodepressor syncope. Due to low pressure, insufficient oxygen reaches the brain. At the moment of loss of consciousness, nausea is noted, profuse sweating, weakness. Such symptoms are a harbinger of fainting. In addition, people can fall into unconsciousness from cerebral hemorrhages, namely from stroke and migraine.

Causes of frequent loss of consciousness

A separate group includes factors that contribute to short-term attacks of loss of consciousness, which occur quite often. It can be psychical deviations which appear occasionally in a sick person, for example, hysterical neurosis or breakdown. Circulatory disorders can occur during an epileptic seizure. People prone to hypotension ( low pressure) And diabetes mellitus, may also be susceptible to similar attacks.

There are various causes of loss of consciousness, characteristic of women and men.

For the fairer sex

In past centuries, a similar condition was often caused by tightly tightened corsets, which compressed the ribs and made breathing difficult, strict diets that provoked anemia, etc.

Nowadays, women lose consciousness for various reasons, including the following:

• internal bleeding due to gynecological disease;
• strict diets or poor nutrition;
• a violent outburst of emotions;
• menorrhagia.

Among the representatives of the stronger sex

Most often, loss of consciousness in men is caused by the following factors:

• alcohol intoxication of the body;
• a tight collar or tight tie of a business suit;
• night urination and coughing in older men.

In pregnant women

Women in a position with normal physiological process You should not lose consciousness while carrying a child. However, expectant mother Some preconditions may arise that worsen cerebral blood flow. The uterus stretches under the weight of the fetus and puts pressure on both nearby organs and the vena cava in the lower part, contributing to the development of passive hyperemia; the return of blood to the heart and blood supply to the brain deteriorate. Therefore, pregnant women should not lean forward sharply or walk in tight clothing.

Anemia, which is often found in expectant mothers, can also be a harbinger of loss of consciousness. A similar situation has already been observed in early stages. During the period of bearing a child, iron elements are spent on the growth and development of the baby, thereby depleting the mother's blood of hemoglobin. A lack of this substance leads to poor oxygen supply to the brain. Therefore, doctors systematically check the blood of pregnant women for hemoglobin levels and the number of red blood cells.

In children and adolescents

At a young age, loss of consciousness can occur for the same reasons as in adults. Each attack should be examined by pediatricians and neurologists.

This phenomenon occurs much more often during puberty. One of the main reasons is fast growth. In girls, loss of consciousness can occur due to latent anemia and vegetative-vascular dystonia. Guys, unlike the opposite sex, are more often susceptible to connective tissue dysplasia of the heart. For example, mitral valve prolapse, which often occurs in young men of asthenic physique (thin and elongated limbs) and is manifested by blurred vision, fainting when standing up suddenly.

For diseases

Loss of consciousness is often a sign of certain pathologies. Below we consider the most common ailments:

1. Vascular diseases. This group includes atherosclerosis, cerebral vascular stenosis and cervical osteochondrosis. They provoke chronic disturbances in the blood flow, which can severely deteriorate memory, sleep and hearing, and in rare cases, loss of consciousness. to varying degrees gravity. This is also caused by varicose veins, which are often found in older people. High pressure(hypertension) causes severe dizziness, causing unconsciousness.
2. Heart pathologies. Defect of the central circulatory organ or changes in large vessels contribute to insufficient blood flow to the brain. Loss of consciousness can be a complication of a disease such as myocardial infarction, as it provokes a decrease in the contractility of the heart muscle. In addition, various rhythm disturbances lead to a state of unconsciousness, for example, a weak sinus node, heart block, ventricular fibrillation in the brain, etc.
3. Lung pathologies. A disease such as bronchial asthma can lead to disturbances in gas exchange functions from respiratory organs to the tissues, causing insufficient oxygen to reach the brain. Arterial thromboembolism and pulmonary hypertension can also manifest as loss of consciousness.
4. Traumatic brain injury. Concussions and bruises in the head area are often accompanied by fainting.
5. Painful or infectious-toxic shock. In case of injury or pathology of internal organs, pain or harmful substances can contribute to inhibition of the functions of the cerebral cortex.
6. Diabetes. The disease leads to hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis, which develop into a fainting state. It is for this reason (if blood sugar rises) that it is necessary to systematically use sugar-lowering drugs.
7. Diseases accompanied by irritation reflex zones vagus nerve. These include stomach ulcers and duodenum, gastritis and pancreatitis.

In healthy people

Persons who are not prone to any diseases are also capable of certain cases fall into an unconscious state. Among such situations, the following are noted:

1. Hunger. Strict diets and refusal to eat deprive the body of glucose, which is why the necessary amounts of nutrients stop getting into the brain. If a person exercises on an empty stomach physical activity, such activities can provoke hungry fainting.
2. Abuse of carbohydrates. The other extreme is also dangerous to health. If most of the diet consists of sweets and starchy foods, the pancreas will produce and release into the body an excess portion of insulin, which breaks down protein in the blood. It contains ketone bodies, which cause metabolic disorders in the cerebral cortex.
3. Injuries. For example, after a blow, loss of consciousness is possible due to severe pain or bleeding.
4. Lack of oxygen, stuffy room, tight underwear or a tight tie. Being in tight clothes in a stuffy place, for example, in transport, you can lose consciousness from lack of oxygen.

Fainting can be caused by sharp drop temperature (for example, when a person runs out of a bathhouse into the snow), sunstroke, smoke inhalation. Some are able to react strongly to changes in atmospheric pressure or changes in weather, losing consciousness. An airplane flight often ends in fainting for some people.

First aid

Timely implementation of treatment and preventive measures will avoid serious consequences upon loss of consciousness. The procedure is as follows:

1. Call a doctor to provide qualified medical care.
2. If a person falls into an unconscious state on the street in the heat, it is necessary to carefully take him into the shade and lay him on a flat surface. If this happened in a building, you need to put the patient in a lying position, make sure there is a soft cushion, pillow or rolled clothing under his head.
3. The victim should count his pulse and listen to his breathing.
4. The head should be turned to the side so that in case of vomiting the person does not choke.
5. It is necessary to ensure a good supply of oxygen by unfastening clothing on the chest, belts, belts and other items on the stomach, as well as opening all windows and doors in the room.
6. In order for oxygen to reach the head faster, the lower limbs should be raised.
7. If you have a first aid kit, you need to take ammonia and rub the victim’s temples. You should not bring cotton wool soaked in the solution too close to the olfactory organ, as this can be dangerous for the mucous membrane.
8. The face and body need to be blotted with a damp handkerchief. When the air temperature is high, clothes can be sprayed with a stream of water.

Emergency assistance must be provided before arrival medical workers. If the victim has regained consciousness, he should be given tea or water to drink. You should not leave the patient alone, as he may become dizzy again, and there is a high risk of hitting himself.

Prevention

Knowing and following the necessary precautions can help prevent loss of consciousness. To do this, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• eat well, including in the diet all micro- and macroelements that contribute to proper operation body;
• dedicate a few minutes a day to moderate physical exercise, exercise or running;
• women during pregnancy should regularly visit a gynecologist and systematically monitor their health;
• avoid excessive physical activity;
• if you are prone to fainting, consult with specialists and follow all their instructions; treatment may be prescribed nootropic drugs and vitamin complexes.

Conclusion

According to statistics, about 30% of all people, including those without serious illnesses, have lost consciousness at least once in their lives. There are many reasons leading to such an attack: a sudden circulatory disorder, a jump in blood pressure, a reaction to a change in weather, overheating, etc. It is important to prevent this condition and competently provide first aid to prevent possible consequences.

Repeated loss of consciousness may indicate cardiac or neurological disease. Since the reasons for this phenomenon are diverse, it is necessary comprehensive diagnostics. Even a moment of fainting should alert you and force you to contact a specialist.

Loss of consciousness is a condition in which the functioning of the central nervous activity is disrupted. A person falls and is motionless (with the exception of convulsions during epileptic seizures), does not perceive the surroundings, does not answer questions, does not react to external stimuli (loud voice, claps, light slaps, wood chips, cold, heat).

A short-term loss of consciousness from several minutes to half an hour is called “syncope” in medicine.
Heavier and long-term conditions are divided according to severity into comas of various degrees.

Causes of loss of consciousness:

1. Insufficient blood flow to the brain.
2. Lack of oxygen in the blood
3. metabolic disorder, that is, brain nutrition.
4. disruption for any reason of the transmission of impulses along the axons of the brain or the occurrence of pathological discharges in the neurons of the brain.

Now let's look at it in order.

Insufficient blood flow to the brain can occur:

1. As a result increased reaction autonomic nervous system to various psychological situations such as excitement, fear, fatigue, there is a sharp expansion peripheral vessels, blood rushes down due to a decrease in resistance, a lack of blood and, consequently, oxygen in the brain is formed.

2. Due to cardiac reasons, when the cardiac ejection fraction, that is, the amount of blood pushed into systole by the left ventricle of the heart, sharply decreases. This condition is typical for acute myocardial infarction. Heart rhythm disturbances, such as atrial fibrillation (chaotic contraction of the atria, independent of the ventricles of the heart), atrioventricular blockade of nerve impulses between the atrium and the ventricle, sick sinus syndrome (the central nerve connection that regulates the rhythm of the heart). As a result of these pathologies, interruptions occur, entire sets of heart contractions disappear, the flow of blood becomes irregular, which also leads to brain hypoxia. With significant stenosis aortic valve heart, syncope is also possible due to difficulty in releasing blood into the aorta.

Immediately in this section I want to make a reservation that frequently found on cardiograms incomplete blockades pedicles of the Hiss bundle ( nerve fibers in the ventricles of the heart), do not lead to attacks with loss of consciousness and, in general, in most cases do not have any symptoms or diagnostic significance if they exist for a long time.

3. Orthostatic syncope, occurs in people with low blood pressure when taking inadequate doses antihypertensive drugs hypertensive patients, as well as in elderly people. It occurs when there is a sudden change in body position (suddenly getting up from a bed or chair). The reason for its occurrence is a delay in the reaction of the vessels of the lower extremities, they do not have time to narrow in time and as a result there is a decrease in blood pressure, a decrease in cardiac output and, again, a lack of blood supply to the brain.

4. With atherosclerotic changes in large vessels supplying the brain, and these are the carotid and vertebral arteries. Atherosclerosis, as we know, is cholesterol plaques that tightly adhere to the wall of the vessel and narrow its lumen.

5. Loss of consciousness is possible when a blood clot appears that completely covers the vessel; the risk of thrombosis exists in postoperative period any surgical interventions, especially when replacing heart valves with artificial ones, after bypass surgery coronary arteries, in the last two cases, since in the body foreign body, the risk of blood clots exists throughout life and requires constant use indirect anticoagulants. Heart rhythm disturbances such as constant or periodic atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation) also have high risk thrombus formation and also requires the use of disaggregants or indirect anticoagulants.

6. In case of anaphylactic shock (severe manifestation allergic reaction on any drug), as well as infectious-toxic shock (in severe infectious diseases), loss of consciousness is also caused by the expansion of peripheral vessels and blood outflow from the heart, but due to the release into the blood of a vasodilating (vasodilating) mediator of inflammatory and allergic processes- histamine and other intracellular elements that appear during the destruction of cellular structures, they not only have a vasodilating property, but also increase the permeability of small capillaries, due to which blood rushes to the skin, the circulating volume of blood decreases, and again, decreases cardiac output, the result is a violation of the blood supply to the brain and syncope.

1. Consultation with a neurologist to exclude neuro-vegetative-vascular dystonia.

2. Consultation with a therapist to exclude hypotension (low blood pressure, below 100\60 mm Hg), as well as prescribing adequate doses of antihypertensive therapy in the presence of hypertension.

3. ECHO KG (ultrasound of the heart), electrocardiogram, Holter ECG (daily ECG), all this to clarify the existence of heart defects, the presence of arrhythmias in the heart.

4. Doppler ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck and brain reveals atherosclerotic or other pathology in these vessels.

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

1. Lack of oxygen in the inhaled air, that is, prolonged exposure to a stuffy room.

2. Possible loss of consciousness when serious illnesses lungs, especially with exacerbation of bronchial asthma, the appearance status asthmaticus, with high degrees of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (obstructive bronchitis).

During a paroxysm of prolonged cough in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease, the mechanism of occurrence is double, firstly directly due to a lack of oxygen in the blood and secondly increases with prolonged cough intrathoracic pressure, which interferes with venous return, as a result of which cardiac output also decreases.

3. For anemia with low hemoglobin high degree (below 70-80g/l) fainting is possible under any conditions. With higher hemoglobin numbers, the likelihood of loss of consciousness increases when you are in a stuffy room.

4. In cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. CO is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas, which increases the risk of poisoning. Poisoning often occurs in everyday life during the heating of stoves, gas water heaters and the lack of the required exhaust and ventilation of the room, when exhaust gases from the car engine enter the driver's cabin (for example, while the driver sleeps in a car with the engine turned on). closed windows or in the garage). Penetrating through the lungs into the blood, carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, blocks the transport of oxygen in the blood, acute oxygen starvation occurs - hypoxia, in addition, by binding to myoglobin (a protein contained in the muscles), CO inhibits the contraction of the myocardial muscle.

To exclude the causes of short-term loss of consciousness due to lack of oxygen in the blood, it is advisable the following examinations and tests:

1 A general blood test, which determines the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells, as well as the number of eosinophils, can determine the presence of bronchial asthma.

2. X-ray of the lungs - exclude chronic bronchitis, cancer and other lung diseases.

3. Spirography (we exhale air with force into a special device) allows us to judge the functions of external respiration.

4. If you suspect bronchial asthma allergic genesis, it is useful to visit an allergist and test for allergens.

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

1. With an overdose of insulin, the amount of sugar in the blood decreases. blood - hypoglycemia, as a result of which the nutrition of the brain is disrupted, which leads to a disruption in the transmission of nerve impulses.

2. Diabetic ketoacidotic coma - on the contrary, occurs with a lack of insulin and an increased amount of glucose in the blood (blood sugar above 17-20 mmol/l). characterized by increased formation of ketone bodies (acetone, urea) in the liver and an increase in their content in the blood. As a result of metabolic disturbances in the cells of the brain and, as a consequence, loss of consciousness. The peculiarity of this coma is the smell of acetone emanating from the patient.
Lactic acidosis (lactic acid coma) in diabetes mellitus usually occurs against the background renal failure and hypoxia. There is a large amount of lactic acid in the blood. Unlike ketoacidotic coma, there is no smell of acetone.
To diagnose diabetes mellitus, repeated blood tests for sugar are required from a finger stick on an empty stomach. When glucose in capillary blood increases by more than 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/l, it indicates a violation of glucose tolerance (that is, a decrease in insulin sensitivity to glucose), an increase in glucose over 7.0 mmol/l is alarming in terms of diabetes mellitus, and then it is required donating blood after a load with glucose (on an empty stomach, donate blood for sugar, then drink 75 grams of glucose dissolved in a glass of water and two hours later the level of sugar in capillary blood is measured. A glucose level after a load above 11.1 indicates the presence of diabetes mellitus. Also important glucose content in urine (should not be normal). The most precise method To establish the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, the measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin is considered, which is a time-averaged indicator of the concentration of glucose in the blood for 6-8 weeks preceding observation.
It makes sense to perform an ultrasound examination of the pancreas in order to exclude diseases leading to diabetes. As you know, insulin is produced in the cells of the pancreas.

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

1. First of all, epileptic syndrome - repeated seizures, often with loss of consciousness, arising as a result of hypersynchronous discharge of brain neurons (pathological foci of excitation in the cerebral cortex). Seizures, unlike other cases of loss of consciousness, are characterized by the presence of clonic (muscle twitching) and tonic ( increased tone, muscle tension) cramps.

2. With various traumatic brain injuries in which a concussion, bruise, or compression of the brain occurs, resulting in a displacement of the cerebral hemispheres relative to the rigidly fixed brain stem, a transient increase in intracranial pressure occurs, tension and twisting of long axons (nerve fibers) occurs ) in depth white matter hemispheres, and brain stem. In mild cases, as a result of this process, the conduction of axons is temporarily disrupted (temporary, short-term loss of consciousness); in severe cases, swelling and rupture of axons and small vessels accompanying them occurs (coma - long-term loss of consciousness of varying degrees).

3.Loss of consciousness may occur when an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke occurs. The difference between them is that in the first case, a violation of the blood supply to the brain occurs due to blockage of a vessel due to a blood clot, the cause of which may be atherosclerosis or the toxic effects of certain substances (from practice I observe a large number ischemic strokes after consuming alcohol substitutes, including after taking large quantities of alcohol-containing infusions sold in pharmacies.

Hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral hemorrhage) is a rupture of a cerebral vessel, always has a more severe course and a higher percentage of deaths.

One of the important factors in the development of both types of strokes is uncontrolled hypertonic disease, for the brain is unfavorable in terms of the development of strokes, both constantly high and spasmodic (from low to high blood pressure).

First aid for loss of consciousness

What to do if you witness another person losing consciousness.

1. If loss of consciousness occurred in a stuffy room during mass events. Fainting is more likely due to lack of oxygen or due to overexcitation of the autonomic innervation of the body. The mechanism of occurrence of this condition is sometimes mixed.

Actions in this case:

1. Extend the collar of a shirt or other clothing.
2. Open a window to allow oxygen to enter or take the victim to a well-ventilated area.
3. Apply a cotton swab with ammonia to the nasal passages for up to 1-2 minutes.
4. If after this it does not come to consciousness, place it on your right side, place your right hand along the body, place your head on the back of your left hand. In this situation less likely tongue retraction, and airways are clearer. If you can, check with the index finger of your hand, having first unclenched your jaws, whether your tongue is retracted into the throat. If so, then you need to clear the airways by fixing the tongue to the side surface of the oral cavity (pressing thumb your hand). Naturally, completely blocking the airways.
5. Check if there is a pulse and breathing (how to do this is described below).
6. If there is no pulse and breathing, you can, if you know how, before the ambulance arrives, begin artificial respiration and chest compressions (the method is given below).
7. Call an ambulance and describe the symptoms of loss of consciousness as accurately as possible.

If you find an unconscious person on the street

1. Find out from witnesses, maybe someone knows what the victim is sick with.
Sometimes chronic patients have data about their illness and a record of their illness in their pockets. possible help. If you find them or receive data about the patient, follow the recommendations of the note or report all the data to the ambulance.
2. Check by feeling whether there are open injuries and bleeding, if detected, try to stop it using available methods until emergency medical assistance arrives.
3. Check if there is a pulse; the best way to feel the pulse is on the carotid artery; to do this, place your index finger and middle finger with your right hand on the thyroid cartilage of the victim, smoothly lower your hand down the neck (with the patient lying down) to a soft depression, here the pulse should be felt.
4. If there is no pulse, there is no breathing (no movement of the chest, no fogging on the glass brought to the victim’s nose and mouth), and skin still warm, check the reaction of the pupils to light. In a living person, or when clinical death, the reaction of the pupils to light is preserved. We check as follows:

If the patient lies with eyes closed, we open our eyelids, if there are signs of life, we observe the constriction of the pupils to the light. If the victim’s eyes are open, cover them with your hand for 10 seconds, then remove your hand; you should again observe a constriction of the pupils. IN dark time To check, use any illumination (flashlight, cellular telephone). Also, to determine signs of life, the corneal reflex is checked; for this, a handkerchief or cotton wool; if not, then we touch the eyelids with another soft textile - blinking occurs in a living person.

If there are signs of life or clinical death, it is possible, before the arrival of emergency medical services, to begin artificial respiration and indirect (direct for specialists, it is carried out when the chest is opened) cardiac massage. Most often early onset resuscitation measures brings more benefit than the emergency medical team arriving after some time. The only thing exception for holding artificial respiration not specialists- this is a suspicion of a spinal fracture in the cervical region.

Methods of performing artificial respiration and indirect cardiac massage.

We place the patient lying on his back, having previously cleared the airways of possible vomit and mucus. We tilt the victim's head back by placing a cushion under occipital region head so that the lower jaw moves forward. When clenching the jaws tightly, you can use the technique of squeezing the lateral surfaces lower jaw. Next, we perform artificial respiration using the “mouth to mouth” method (used most often), or the “mouth to nose” method (used in cases of inaccessibility oral cavities). To do this, we take 2 breaths into the patient through a handkerchief, having previously pinched the nose or mouth (depending on the type of artificial respiration), then we press with straightened arms folded one above the other in the area of ​​the lower third of the sternum in the amount of 8-10 presses, with reasonable application strength to move the chest, and naturally freeing the airways for air to escape. When performing artificial respiration and chest compressions together, the following technique is proposed: One breathes “mouth to mouth” or “mouth to nose” in the amount of one breath, the other makes 4-5 compressions on the chest.

Cycles of artificial respiration and chest compressions are repeated until emergency medical assistance arrives.