First aid rules for fainting - what to do if you faint, and what not to do? Fainting: how to fall on purpose, safely and quickly for real Why people often faint

Did you forget to study for your test? Do you have an event planned but would like to avoid it? In this case, you can feign fainting. Whether you want to divert the attention of others or get out of an awkward situation, the steps outlined in this article will help you fake fainting.

Steps

How to portray fainting believably

Learn about possible causes of fainting. Fainting is a fairly common disorder that affects many people. The reason can be either completely harmless or pose a serious danger. Before you pretend to faint, you should learn about relatively harmless factors that can lead to fainting. Fainting is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.

Learn about the symptoms of fainting. Typically, people experience certain symptoms that precede loss of consciousness, such as high fever, nausea, confusion and confusion, and rapid breathing. The person may also experience dizziness or weakness, ringing in the ears, or temporary hearing loss. These symptoms are often experienced before fainting.

Choose a harmless reason for your fake fainting. If you are not pretending to faint on a theater stage, you should come up with a plausible reason for your weakness so that those around you will not think of calling an ambulance, and after fainting you can quickly come to your senses and leave them without arousing suspicion. Because harmless fainting is usually associated with low blood pressure and insufficient blood flow to the brain, there are several scenarios that can lead to this type of fainting.

• Low blood pressure can be caused by a feeling of hunger: for example, you did not have time to have breakfast or you were very hungry after your last meal. Lack of fluid can lead to dehydration, reducing blood flow to the brain.
• When you are outside in hot weather or in a stuffy room, you may say that you are hot. You can also pretend that you are very worried about some unpleasant event. If you sometimes get scared by insects or loud noises, you can feign fear by hyperventilating and then pretend to faint.
• If you've let a friend in on your plan to fake fainting, he may suddenly tap you on the shoulder, causing you to briefly lose consciousness. This technique may look a little graphic and may have some consequences for your assistant, but it is a good way to fake fainting without causing any health risks.

1. Plan for your fainting. To ensure that your fake fainting does not cause unexpected consequences and leads to the intended results, it must be carefully planned. The goal you want to achieve will determine where you faint. You may not be able to predict the exact time of your false fainting. However, you need to reliably control the conditions under which it occurs so as not to injure yourself or cause unintended consequences.

   • What exactly are you trying to avoid? A friend's wedding? An exam you didn't prepare for? Or do you need to sing in front of a large audience and you feel unprepared for it?
   • To minimize the likelihood of a fiasco, you should feign fainting in the presence of only a few witnesses. Fainting in front of many people may cause one of them to see through the deception; In addition, in this case, your fainting will attract undue attention, and you will not be able to quickly retreat.
   • You should also avoid pretending to faint in the middle of an important event where many people are present, such as your friend's wedding ceremony, an awards ceremony, or an exam. Plan events so that your fainting occurs before the start of the event you would like to avoid participating in.

2. Anticipate the conditions under which your feigned fainting will occur. Will you stand or sit? What are the best symptoms to depict before fainting? Where exactly will you fall when you faint? How long will you remain in a supposedly unconscious state? Think through all these points.

   • It is important to practice falling into a false faint in advance. You should not think that everything will work out the first time, without preparation: when the time comes to pretend to faint, you may be afraid of falling and hitting your head, or, having started to breathe quickly, you will not be able to stop smiling. Practice falling so that you can do it as safely as possible and eliminate the possibility of injury.
   • Have a plan in place to ensure everything goes smoothly when it comes time to fake fainting in front of others.

3. Plan your care. You will need to pretend to be unconscious for just a few seconds, no more than 20 seconds. When a person falls to the floor or leans against something so that the head is at the level of the heart, blood flow to the brain is immediately normalized and consciousness returns.

   • After pretending that you have regained consciousness, do not immediately jump up and act as if nothing happened. Sit still for a few minutes - this is how long it usually takes to recover from a real faint. Don't forget about this important point.
   • You should not pretend to faint during a time-limited event, expecting to immediately leave after fainting. Be prepared to also reassure those around you by explaining to them that nothing serious happened, that you are completely fine and are able to get up and leave on your own, after which you will leave as quickly as possible.

   Fainting in a public place

   1. Set the stage for your performance. Now that you are properly prepared, it’s time to pretend to faint so that no one doubts its veracity. Arriving at the scene, make sure that everything is in order and nothing will interfere with your plans.

      • Are there enough witnesses, and are they the people you expected to be present? Is there an event that you would like to avoid attending? Are there too many people around?
      • After making sure that everything is in order, go to the place you have chosen to fake fainting. In the case of real fainting, quite a short time passes between the appearance of preliminary symptoms and loss of consciousness.
      • Make sure there are no dangerous objects nearby that could injure you if you fall. Also make sure that you don't hit anyone when you fall.

   2. Complain to others about the symptoms that usually precede fainting. Once properly prepared, begin to depict the relevant symptoms. No more than a few minutes should pass between their manifestation and fainting itself. If you chose not having breakfast as the reason, complain that you are very hungry. If the room is crowded and stuffy, you can complain that you are very hot. If you are walking, slow down, touch your forehead with your hand, and tell others that you are feeling dizzy. At the same time, you can close your eyes. Complain of nausea. Feign sudden weakness and say that you feel uneasy. Demonstrate symptoms for 1-2 minutes.

      Take the place you have planned for fainting. Showing the appropriate symptoms and trying not to attract undue attention to your movements, go to the place you have chosen to fall. If you're going to pretend to faint while sitting, pretend you're having trouble standing and sit down. Say you're feeling uneasy and feel like you need a glass of water or a breath of fresh air.

      • You can ask someone to open the window. If there are no windows nearby and getting water is also problematic, simply tell them that you need to sit down or go out into the fresh air. After sitting for a while, try to get up slowly. After this, stumble a little and fall forward. Before you do this, say something like “I just...”. If the phrase is not very short, interrupt it mid-sentence.

   3. Pretend to faint. Make sure you fall safely again. You should not hit your head, hurt yourself, or get hurt. If you are standing, bend your knees and touch the floor as you fall before falling onto your side. Act quickly enough, but not as if you were struck by lightning, otherwise your fainting will look unrealistic.

      • If you are sitting, relax and imagine that you are actually losing consciousness. Pretend to faint and fall from your chair to the floor.
      • Try to land on your butt rather than your hip or tailbone. After this, quickly lower yourself to the floor with your whole body. Close your eyes and completely relax all your muscles: just relax.
      • Act as if you have no bones, sinking to the floor with a relaxed body. This will make your fainting sound believable.

   4. Pretend that you have lost consciousness for a few seconds. Lie motionless on the floor. You should completely relax; if someone lifts and shakes your hand, relax it completely, and when they release it, just let it fall freely back to the floor. This is a routine check in case of fainting. Unconscious people have no control over their limbs. If anyone is helping you with your venture, have them check your condition to rule out any surprises.

      • Don't stay on the floor for too long, otherwise someone will have time to call an ambulance. If you don't want this to happen, stay still for no more than 20 seconds.

   5. Open your eyes and take a deep breath. Many people wake up after fainting and have no memory of it. Tell those around you that all you remember is how hot you felt and how the lights seemed to go out in the room.

      Squat down slowly and after a few seconds stand up on your own or have someone help you to your feet. As you rise, you may begin to sway a little, and those around you, noticing this and fearing that you might faint again, will rush to your aid. At the same time, if they ask you about your condition, try to reassure them by telling them that you feel much better.

      After a false faint, try not to linger. Stay for another ten minutes, pretending to come to your senses after what happened. Then excuse yourself by saying you are going home to rest or are going to see the doctor. You may be asked to accompany you - in this case, thank and politely say that you are able to get there on your own.

   • When you open your eyes after fainting, do not immediately start talking. Look around confused for a few seconds, then ask what happened. If you open your eyes and immediately start chattering, it won't look real.
   • If you doubt that you will be able to portray everything properly, make sure that there are 1-2 people nearby who can see your fainting; however, they should not be too close so as not to notice anything suspicious.
   • Don't smile or giggle during the whole action, otherwise your behavior will look implausible.
   • You'll likely need to practice to get it looking real. Find a way to fall that won't cause you pain or discomfort by practicing beforehand on a carpet or with your shoes off on a wide bed.
   • If you decide to fall forward, do not put your hands in front of you under any circumstances. This is a defensive reflex, and to overcome it it is better to practice in advance.
   • If you are afraid of falling quickly and are afraid of hurting yourself, pretend to faint near something you can lean on. Sometimes people, starting to lose consciousness, feel that something wrong is happening and try to grab onto something so as not to fall. However, after a fall, you should release the support. Grabbing onto something, even for a moment, will slow your fall and reduce the risk of injury.
   • Practice fainting on a soft carpet or, better yet, on a bed with your shoes off.
   • Try pretending to faint near a wall that will cushion your fall.
   • If you fall in an open area, first make sure that you do not hit anyone or anything, as this can lead to unpleasant consequences and injuries.
   • Most often, fainting consists of a loss of complete, but not all, control: for example, with a gradual loss of consciousness, a person sinks to the floor slowly, rather than collapses on it in a sheaf.
   • Just before you fall, place one foot with your toe slightly inward - this will allow you to quickly drop to your knee, after which you can fall onto your side.
   • Consider letting someone in on your plans. In this case, they will be able to help you if you fall, preventing possible injuries.
   • First, bend your knees to touch the floor before lowering your upper body.
   • Those present may begin to tug and shake you, trying to bring you to consciousness. Do not smile or laugh at the same time, so as not to give yourself away, for which it is better to practice in advance.
   • Remember to keep your eyes closed.

   Warnings

   • If immediately after fainting you go into action, it will seem strange. Sit for a while, resting your head on your knees and as if coming to your senses.
   • Do not use this technique repeatedly or overdo it, otherwise people will think that you have serious health problems and call an ambulance.
   • When fainting, make sure that there is enough free space around you and that you will not hit anyone or anything, as this can lead to injury. Be careful!
   • Don't pretend to faint in an attempt to fool the police and avoid arrest. This will lead to more O Greater problems.
   • Do not hyperventilate, otherwise you will have to call an ambulance. If you're planning to fake faint, don't pretend to be breathing fast for too long, or your heart rate will increase noticeably.
   • Don't ask "what happened?" immediately after feigning fainting. This common cliché is often unconvincing. However, it is quite possible to ask this question to someone present a few minutes after the incident, perhaps adding something like “Do I really look unwell?”

Loss of consciousness is characterized by a person’s absolute insensitivity to the surrounding reality. In this case, the person does not move (as a rule, he is in a lying position). At the same time, he does not react in any way to external stimuli and is silent in response to questions asked.

What happens when you lose consciousness

This is not a list of all the reasons that can cause loss of consciousness. In addition to overwork, overheating, excessive vomiting or nosebleeds, the cause of fainting can be alcoholic beverages (more precisely, their abuse). Even energy drinks or drinks containing caffeine can have a similar effect.

Sometimes fainting is a manifestation of a fairly serious illness. For example, anemia, a number of diseases of the vascular system, and heart disease can also cause loss of consciousness.

Respiratory failure, damage to the body by powerful infections can also cause fainting. Severe intoxication (vapors and gases) can have a similar effect. Head injuries and past pathological conditions can also be attributed to the causes of loss of consciousness. Fainting can even be caused by diseases of the cervical spine (for example, common osteochondrosis).

Regular fainting may be a cause for serious concern. It doesn’t really matter how long after the primary fainting the secondary loss of consciousness occurred (a day, a week or two). In any case, if the loss of consciousness is systemic, you need to consult a doctor.

What to do if you lose consciousness

As was said, fainting rarely occurs suddenly; as a rule, it is preceded by a number of symptoms (presyncope). A person can reduce the likelihood of losing consciousness by taking proper steps during the pre-syncope period.

In this case, it is critical to take a sitting or lying position. In this case, the risk of fainting will be practically zero. The fact is that fainting is possible only in those people who are standing or walking. Therefore, at the slightest sign of impending fainting (nausea, darkening of the eyes, dizziness), you need to find a place and take a horizontal position.

In some cases, it is impossible to follow these recommendations - there is simply no place nearby to lie down. In this case, you need to at least lean against the wall. You can then try to prevent accidental loss of consciousness. To do this, you need to cross your legs, and try to tense your hips and buttocks. This will increase the flow of circulating blood.

First aid for loss of consciousness

If a person witnesses a loss of consciousness, he can minimize the negative consequences for the unconscious person:

• if there is a suspicion that a person is in a pre-fainting state and will faint in the near future, it is necessary to prevent him from falling. In the event of a fall, there is a high risk of head injury due to hitting an object or the floor;
• if this human condition is caused by electric shock, then it is necessary to remove the live wire from the person. In this case, you need to avoid getting hurt yourself, so the wire from the person needs to be removed with a dielectric. In general, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the factor that caused the loss of consciousness. For example, if the reason is a lack of oxygen, then the person should be taken out of a stuffy (or smoky) room. In order to provide fresh air, you can open a window;
• if a person is unconscious, then he must be laid on a bed, table, or even just on the floor. It is not recommended that the person be in a sitting position;
• Everything must be done to ensure that nothing interferes with the flow of fresh air. Therefore, the tight collar needs to be unbuttoned, the scarf and belt should be relaxed, there is no need to put anything under the head;
• From the point of view of ensuring the flow of fresh blood to the head, it would be better to slightly raise the person's legs. With the flow of blood, the brain will receive the necessary amount of oxygen, which will have a positive effect on its condition and speed up recovery from fainting;
• with the help of external stimuli you can try to bring the person to consciousness. Substances such as ammonia or ordinary vinegar are suitable for this. You need to slightly moisten the cotton wool with these liquids and bring it under the nose of the injured person. If such substances are not at hand, you can get by with simply patting the victim on the cheeks; you can also try spraying cold water on the person;
• in some cases, even after all such events, a person remains unconscious. In this case, you need to make sure that he has a pulse and breathing. In order to determine the pulse, you need to put 2 fingers on the carotid artery, and breathing can be determined using a mirror (it fogs up when you breathe);
• if a person is not breathing and it was not possible to detect his pulse, then urgent resuscitation measures are necessary. In particular, you need to do artificial respiration and chest compressions;
• if a person has both breathing and a pulse, he needs to be turned on his side. In this position, it is much less likely that he will choke if he vomits violently. If he lies on his back, then the likelihood of this is high;
• After providing first aid measures in case of loss of consciousness, you must go to the clinic. Consultation with doctors is mandatory even if the person has regained consciousness and his health has returned to normal.

In no case should one consider loss of consciousness as some kind of protective function of the body and a normal reaction of the brain to certain stimuli. You cannot leave a person unconscious until he comes to his senses. It should be remembered that loss of consciousness is accompanied by irreversible changes in brain tissue, which can have the most serious consequences for a person.

During an unconscious state, a person does not rest. That is why first aid measures cannot be postponed; if a person witnesses a loss of consciousness, he must provide all possible assistance to the victim as soon as possible, call doctors and bring the person to consciousness before they arrive.

Not all people like increased attention to their person. Therefore, after regaining consciousness, they may be embarrassed and refuse medical help. In this case, you should not indulge them; on the contrary, it is recommended to insist on receiving qualified medical care. It is also not recommended to leave the victim alone unattended in the near future. The fact is that fainting can recur at certain intervals. A similar clinical picture is typical for many diseases or simply conditions of the body.

It is advisable to personally ensure that the person who has regained consciousness receives all the necessary help.

Each of us wants to know why people faint.

According to doctors, fainting is a loss of consciousness for a short time due to impaired cerebral circulation.

And it happens to each of us for one reason or another.

Why people faint, signs:

The most common signs and causes of fainting are increased tension in a woman’s nervous system.

To put it in simple terms, some of us react very emotionally to external stimuli, unexpected news, or even unexpected joy or shock from the news.

• The legs become weak and give way.
• Loss of consciousness.

Fainting and loss of consciousness, what happens:

Your reaction to news that strikes you causes the production of adrenaline in the body, in which adrenaline directs blood to the heart, lungs, muscles, but at the same time insufficiently supplies it to the brain.

The sudden redistribution of blood in the body leads to fainting. Knowing this feature in yourself, prepare for the reactions of your beloved organism in advance.

Fainting can happen to any of us, for example, in a stuffy room, and even a cramped one. In this case, fainting is caused by a long stay in an upright position and lack of oxygen “hypoxia” due to stuffiness.

To prevent lightheadedness, leave the room if possible; if this is not possible, sit down and unbutton your clothes or tight clothing items.

Always carry a bottle of water and something to eat with you, as soon as you feel that you are getting sick, eat anything and drink water, it helps.

Help for fainting:

If fainting does occur, you will have to provide first aid; teach your loved ones to provide it to you.

• It is necessary to lay the person in such a way that the legs are higher than the head, for a rapid flow of blood to the brain. You don't need to put anything under your head.
• Free the patient from all restrictive clothing for better access to fresh air.
• Sometimes when a person faints, they vomit. To prevent him from choking on vomit, turn his head to the side and empty his mouth of vomit.
• You can spray the patient with water or hold a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to the nose.
• When the patient comes to his senses, he should be given a cup of tea and
  whether coffee, drop some valerian or corvalol.
• Fainting and loss of consciousness last from several seconds to several minutes; if the patient does not regain consciousness for more than 5 minutes, he must be urgently hospitalized.

Hungry faint:

If you are on a strict diet and apply severe dietary restrictions to yourself, then the occurrence of fainting and loss of consciousness is not surprising.

You dramatically deprive the body of essential nutrients and at the same time slow down the flow of blood to the brain.

Due to dietary restrictions, you lack the energy we need so much and the level drops, and sugar, as you know, is the main food for our brain.

Its deficiency causes hypoglycemia i.e. starvation of nerve cells and a sharp disruption of their activity.

You should always have sweets in your purse. Dietary restrictions must be implemented wisely and gradually.

If, despite all your efforts, you continue to faint, stop all diets and eat right, and don’t kill yourself ahead of time.

The brain, which is often in a deficit of blood and oxygen during hungry fainting, does not lead to anything good.

Frequent fainting:

With frequent fainting, You definitely need to undergo a thorough examination of your body if you suffer from hungry fainting.

This should not be the case - this is not the norm, but a deviation from it.

Perhaps you have:

Neurosis:

• Demonstration of fainting so that those present can see how bad you are and come to your aid in time. The help of a psychotherapist is required.

Chronic lung diseases:

• During prolonged coughing attacks, the pressure in the chest increases and the venous outflow of blood from the skull becomes difficult.

Cardiovascular diseases:

• When heart rhythm disturbances occur, cardiac output decreases.

Epilepsy:

• Sometimes epilepsy attacks are non-convulsive, and simply severe fainting may be accompanied by convulsions.
• If you suffer from this disease, undergo an electroencephalogram for an accurate diagnosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

• With this disease, damage to the arteries supplying the brain is observed.
• You experience double vision, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting.
• When you turn your head, you often faint and lose consciousness.

In order to determine the nature of frequent fainting, undergo an examination and check:

Why do people faint, diagnosis:

• Arterial pressure.
• Examine the fundus.
• Donate blood for: sugar, residual nitrogen, CBS.
• Submit urine for: determination of protein in urine, acetone, glucose, sediment.
• Radiography.
• Sonography.
• Computed tomography of the skull.
• ECG sometimes requires daily monitoring.

Eat foods containing vitamin B:

• Bananas, apricots, pork and beef liver, nuts, or take pharmaceutical drugs in a dose three times higher than normal.
• Thus, we strengthen our nervous system

You can perform a well-helping massage:

• Place the middle finger of either hand between the index finger and thumb of the other hand.
• Perform the massage by pressing with medium force with your thumbnail in rhythm with your heartbeat.
• The massage is performed on both hands.

If you undergo the examination in time and understand why you are fainting, you need to undergo treatment.

The most important thing in treatment is supportive procedures.

This disease can bring a lot of trouble. Frequent fainting in people is an alarming signal, please get treatment and get well!

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Watch the video why people faint:

Fainting is a rather unpleasant condition, its causes and warning signs, which everyone should know.

It gets dark before your eyes, and the ground disappears from under your feet - this is how people describe the fainting that happened to them. Although a momentary loss of consciousness is not always a sign of serious problems, it is better to know why it happened.

Fainting occurs as a result of decreased blood flow and, consequently, lack of oxygen in the brain. A sudden narrowing of blood vessels, a drop in blood pressure due to a sudden change in posture, disruption of the heart - all these factors disrupt cerebral circulation, causing blackout. This short-term loss of senses, lasting from a few seconds to two minutes, is medically called syncope or fainting.

Despite the rapid development of this condition, it is possible to notice the characteristic signs of impending loss of consciousness. There is weakness in the legs or general lightheadedness, dizziness, flickering before the eyes and ringing in the ears, the skin turns pale and becomes covered in cold sweat.

A person instinctively tries to lie down or sit down with his head hanging between his legs, which helps prevent falling and even loss of consciousness itself. For some time after recovering from a fainting state, a rare and weak pulse, low blood pressure, pallor and general weakness persist.

General classification of fainting

It is not always possible to find out why a person faints. Transient spasm of cerebral vessels also occurs in healthy young people who do not have heart problems. It can be caused by one or several factors: sudden external influences (pain, fear), an accidental malfunction of an organ or a serious illness, and even acceleration due to going up in an elevator.

Depending on the cause, the following types of fainting are distinguished:

1. Neurogenic - occurs due to disruption of the autonomic nervous system.
2. Somatogenic - their occurrence is caused by changes in the body due to diseases or disruptions in the functioning of internal organs. Among them, the most common are loss of consciousness of a cardiogenic nature, occurring due to diseases of the cardiovascular system.
3. Psychogenic - caused by nervous shock, accompanying anxiety or hysteria.
4. Extreme - provoked by extreme environmental factors: poisoning, lack of oxygen in the air, changes in atmospheric pressure when climbing mountains, etc.

Neurogenic syncope

The majority of all cases of loss of consciousness occur due to an imbalance in the peripheral nervous system. which leads to a sharp decrease in blood pressure, causing an autonomic reflex reaction. Such fainting occurs even in children during the growth period. The cause may be either vasodilation (in this case we speak of vasomotor syncope) or a decrease in pulse rate (vasovagal syncope). The reasons that cause them are different, but usually obvious.

1. Strong emotions (pain, fear, nervous shock, the sight of blood), prolonged standing, heat or stuffiness provoke vasopressor fainting. They develop gradually and can be prevented by noticing the signs mentioned above.
2. When a person stands up suddenly, especially after sleeping or sitting for a long time, there is a risk of orthostatic syncope. It also occurs due to hypovolemia (as a result of blood loss, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.), after prolonged bed rest, as a result of taking medications that lower blood pressure. But sometimes its cause lies in autonomic failure or polyneuropathy.
3. A tight collar, tie or neckerchief that is too tight when turning your head pinches the arteries that carry blood to the brain. Carotid sinus syndrome (sinocarotid syncope) is observed. Similar irritation of the peripheral nerves leads to loss of consciousness when swallowing.
4. Nighttime urination after sleeping in a warm bed can cause a rare occurrence of nocturic syncope in men (mainly older people).

Heart disease and other somatic causes of loss of consciousness

Of all the fainting spells of a somatic nature, the leading one is cardiogenic. It occurs when a person has diseases of the cardiovascular system. Loss of consciousness in this case occurs suddenly, without pain or other previous symptoms, as a result of a decrease in cerebral blood flow due to a sharp decrease in cardiac output.

The reasons lie in diseases such as:

• arrhythmias;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• cardiac ischemia;
• pulmonary embolism;
• other vascular lesions that prevent blood flow to the heart.

Chronic respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchial asthma, emphysema) contribute to bettolepsy - loss of consciousness during a severe coughing attack.
Changes in blood composition due to anemia, kidney or liver failure increase the risk of oxygen starvation of the brain and sudden fainting.

Why do people still faint?

Mental illnesses accompanied by anxiety disorders and simply excessive impressionability lead to. They are characterized by prolonged pre-fainting states, to which, in addition to physiological sensations, is added a feeling of fear and even panic.

However, sometimes a visit to the dentist, the sight of blood, or the need to speak in front of a large gathering of people is enough to create a state of intense fear. A person experiences a feeling of lack of air, breathing becomes excessively frequent and deep. Sometimes increased breathing occurs involuntarily. As a result, there is a drop in vascular tone due to respiratory alkalosis.

It is worth highlighting separately. It occurs in a person prone to hysterical manifestations and who has already fainted. The loss of senses does not last long, is accompanied by picturesque poses, occurs only in the presence of strangers, typical circulatory disorders (decreased pressure, change in pulse rate) and changes in breathing are not observed.

Sometimes such an attack can last for several hours, with no changes in vital functions. Although the purpose of hysterical fainting is to attract attention, it is not always a conscious phenomenon. The victim’s emotions prevail over reason, and the desire to lose consciousness is not considered.

Extreme factors of the external world have a strong influence on a person, surpassing the physiological ability to adapt to them. These, predominantly exogenous effects, lead to a drop in blood pressure, a decrease in vascular tone, or another reason for the slowing of blood supply to the brain.

Such situational fainting occurs as a response of the body to:

• changes in ambient pressure when circling on a carousel, climbing mountains or as a result of decompression;
• acceleration during vertical ascent (on an elevator or in an airplane taking off);
• extreme heat and overheating of the body (heatstroke and sunstroke);
• decrease in oxygen in the air (for example, when climbing mountains) or carbon monoxide poisoning;
• poisoning leading to a decrease in blood pressure, including vasodilation under the influence of alcohol;
• taking medications (especially antihypertensives).

Since they are often neurogenic in nature, their onset can be prevented.

Although most fainting occurs for understandable and low-risk reasons, it is best to avoid situations that can cause this condition. When it is not clear why a person lost consciousness, and even more so if such cases are repeated, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. Before the victim regains consciousness and for some time after that, he needs to maintain a horizontal position or sit with his head bowed to increase blood flow to the brain.

Syncope (fainting) manifest themselves as a sudden short loss of consciousness and are accompanied by a sharp decrease in muscle tone. Brief loss of consciousness is a fairly common occurrence. Statistics say that almost every third person living on Earth has fainted at least once in their life.

Classification of the disease

cardiogenic (heart);
reflex;
orthostatic;
cerebrovascular.

Cardiogenic syncope arise as a result of the development of various cardiovascular pathologies, resulting in morphological and structural changes in the functioning of organs (vessels and heart). Depending on the type of pathology, cardiogenic syncope is in turn divided into obstructive and arrhythmogenic.

Reflex fainting Unlike cardiogenic syncope, they are not associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system; the causes of their occurrence are sudden psycho-emotional disorders. There are vasovagal syncope and situational syncope. Vasovagal syncope is the most common, and sudden “lightheadedness” can occur at any age. Vasovagal syncope usually occurs when the body is upright or in a sitting position. Often observed in young people who do not have health problems. Situational syncope can happen when swallowing, when coughing or sneezing, or when defecating or urinating.

Orthostatic collapse associated with the occurrence of lability or insufficiency of vasoconstrictor reflexes. Orthostatic fainting occurs when there is a sudden change in body position from horizontal to vertical. Most often, orthostatic collapse occurs at night or in the morning as a result of abruptly getting out of bed. It can also occur with prolonged standing. Vascular syncope is caused by insufficient tone of the venous system. When changing body position, a sharp redistribution of blood flow occurs, the amount of blood volume in the venous bed increases, and the blood flow to the heart, on the contrary, decreases. Orthostatic hypotension is accompanied by a sudden drop in arterial and venous pressure.

Cerebrovascular syncope- these are, in essence, ischemic transient attacks associated with the venous distance and arising in the vertebrobasilar system. Fainting conditions caused by vertebrobasilar insufficiency are quite rare and are most often observed in elderly people over 60 years of age.

Symptoms and signs

Typical signs of fainting:

Profuse sweating;
dizziness;
tinnitus;
nausea;
flickering or darkening in the eyes;
cardiopalmus;
hot flashes;
pale skin.

A pre-fainting state is manifested by accelerated breathing and increased yawning, thus the body tries to make up for the lack of oxygen to nourish the brain. Then drops of sweat appear on the forehead, the skin turns pale.

When you faint, blood pressure decreases, weakness appears, and breathing becomes shallow. The time spent in an unconscious state can last from one moment to several minutes. In some cases, fainting may be accompanied by convulsions.

Causes of the disease

Main causes of fainting:

Problems in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
chronic lung disease and a number of other diseases;
sugar deficiency;
hunger;
pain;
pregnancy;
large blood loss;
stressful situation or shock.

The cause of fainting can be heatstroke, which can be triggered by high air temperature along with high humidity.

One of the causes of fainting is hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus. Sudden fainting can occur when the arterial bed is affected in the bifurcation zone of the main carotid artery, for example, when massaging this area. Fainting due to increased sensitivity of the carotid sinus occurs more often in men than in women, and if a man is elderly, the risk of this type of fainting condition increases significantly.

The cause of fainting in children is often vegetative-vascular dystonia, which leads to a drop in venous and blood pressure. They are more often observed in children with increased emotional lability. A child who has suffered a severe infectious disease is also susceptible to fainting due to weakening of the body and loss of appetite.

People on strict diets are at risk of fainting from hunger. A girl who strictly limits her diet in order to acquire an ideal figure does not receive enough of the nutrients her body needs. An energy deficiency occurs and the body reduces blood flow to the digestive organs, ensuring the functioning of the heart, brain, and lungs. When there is insufficient blood flow to vital organs, the brain shuts down and loss of consciousness occurs. The consequences of hungry syncope can be quite sad - traumatic brain injuries, lack of coordination, memory gaps, etc.

Syncope during pregnancy occurs due to low blood pressure. A sharp jump in blood pressure in pregnant women can be associated with stuffiness, fatigue, hunger, exacerbation of chronic and respiratory diseases, and emotional distress.

Diagnosis and treatment

On studying the patient's history and complaints,
on laboratory examinations;
on additional diagnostic methods.

Laboratory tests can determine the amount of glucose, red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Additional diagnostic tools include:

electrocardiography– study of the heart using electrodes applied to the body;
dopplerography– examination of blood vessels to determine the permeability of blood flow to the brain and identify existing deformations;
spiral CT angiography– giving an idea of ​​the structure of the atherosclerotic plaque, stenosis. This research method allows you to assess blood flow during dosed physical activity, which includes bending, turning and tilting the head, and also determine the relationship of the skull, vertebral arteries and vertebrae.

Brief data
- It is known that in the 18th and 19th centuries, young ladies and ladies of noble birth quite often lost consciousness. The cause of fainting was the universal wearing of corsets.
- In almost 50% of cases of syncope, it is not possible to determine the real cause of fainting.
- According to statistics, about half a million new cases of fainting are registered every year around the world. Among adolescents and children, the number of cases of short-term loss of consciousness is about 15% out of 100; people over 70 years old account for 23%. Short-term fainting in men aged 40 to 59 years is observed in 16% of cases, and in women of the designated age category - 19%.

To bring a person to consciousness, irritating influences are often used - ammonia is brought to the patient’s nose, the neck and face are sprinkled with cold water. After the patient has come to his senses, you need to observe him for some time - until the feeling of weakness completely disappears.

If it is not possible to bring a person to consciousness within five minutes, you need to call an ambulance. Deep fainting is a very dangerous phenomenon, especially if the syncope is accompanied by bluishness of the facial skin; in most cases, patients do not survive.

Medical practice in the treatment of fainting uses drugs such as 10% cordiamine, or corazol in a dosage of 1 ml, 10% caffeine benzoate solution. Medicines are administered subcutaneously. To more quickly restore blood pressure, use a 5% ephedrine solution. If after the measures taken the effect is not achieved, doctors carry out such actions as artificial respiration, accompanied by indirect cardiac massage.

Prevention

Preventive measures include moderate exercise, hardening, normal work, sleep and rest.

In the morning, when getting out of bed, you should not make sudden movements, since a rapid transition from a lying position to a standing position can lead to orthostatic collapse.

Traditional methods of treatment

For frequent fainting caused by psycho-emotional experiences, traditional medicine recommends drinking teas with lemon balm, linden, and St. John's wort.

Traditional healers suggest treating frequent fainting with a decoction of gentian. To prepare it you should take 2 tsp. chopped herbs and pour two glasses of boiling water over them. It is necessary to take the miraculous remedy three times a day, in a dosage of ½ glass, preferably before meals.

To prevent frequent fainting, you can use the following remedy: grind 1 tbsp in a coffee grinder. spoon of wormwood seeds, add 100 ml of olive oil to the mixture and leave for ten hours. Transfer the prepared medicine into a dark glass jar and store it in the refrigerator. Directions for use: place a couple of drops of the medicinal mixture on a refined piece of sugar, take twice a day.

To bring a person to consciousness, traditional medicine suggests using essential oils - rosemary, mint, camphor.

You can bring a person back to consciousness by applying a crushed burdock leaf to the solar plexus area. A wax ointment, which has cooling properties, is applied to the crown of the patient.

A special massage will also come to the aid of a sick person. Providing assistance consists of massaging the pads of the fingers, kneading the earlobes, and massaging certain points. One of them is located under the nasal septum, the other is in the center of the fold under the lower lip.