“Flu cannot be carried on your feet. The virus affects blood vessels, and with any movement a person risks fainting

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. The cause may be a short-term decrease in cerebral blood flow.

What is fainting? Often this is an indicator of some kind of disease. Medicine has studied a variety of conditions in which fainting can occur:

diseases manifested by a decrease in cardiac output: cardiac arrhythmias, stenosis of the aorta, pulmonary arteries, angina attacks;
pathological conditions: fainting when swallowing, when suddenly standing up from a lying position;
with a sharp decrease in oxygen content in the blood, other problems with the blood, with anemia, in stuffiness.

Causes of fainting

Fainting most often occurs in the following cases:

increased intracranial pressure;
brain pathologies;
a sharp drop in blood pressure;
increased sensitivity of the carotid sinus (sinocarotid syncope);
open and closed skull injuries;
pain shock;
vertebral pathologies caused by osteochondrosis, congenital cervical pathologies;
problems of metabolism of brain tissue during hypoglycemia, infections, chemical poisoning;
seizures accompanied by hysteria;
autonomic disorders in children and adolescents.

Very often it is a consequence of a sharp decrease in blood pressure if a person’s internal organs have not had time to adapt to changes in blood flow. In such cases, there is a feeling of malaise and lack of oxygen. This type of fainting is triggered by physical exertion.

Fainting occurs when there is a sharp decrease in blood flow due to bleeding, injury, or dehydration.

Before the onset of fainting, a person feels weakness, ringing in the ears, cold sweat, darkening of the eyes, and loss of coordination of movements.

In the absence of any serious pathologies, fainting occurs safely.

Fainting in children

Children under 2 years of age may experience convulsive fainting due to fear and pain. The cause is often increased excitability of the nervous system. Any external irritant can cause a scream, which leads to holding the breath, and a short loss of consciousness occurs.

There are cases when a convulsive attack develops at a high temperature in a child, with the flu, and fainting with convulsions may occur. The teenage body is susceptible to similar manifestations. Blood vessels do not always have time to adjust to the growth of body parts. Very often, teenagers experience fainting due to VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia). In adolescence, they are often observed in girls. An isolated incident of fainting is not a sign of a serious illness, but it would be better to consult a pediatrician.

Let's take a closer look at what types of fainting are most common.

Fainting with epilepsy

The patterns of the course of convulsive syncope and syncope in epilepsy are significantly different. Both are characterized by loss of consciousness, convulsive manifestations, changes in blood pressure, and dilated pupils.

There are a number of distinctive signs by which the type of fainting can be determined.

Before loss of consciousness, there is a feeling of weakness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sometimes you can just lie down to restore the body's strength. Patients with epilepsy usually feel the onset of an attack, but often an attack can begin suddenly, a person runs the risk of falling on the spot while walking, and changing the person’s position during a seizure does not normalize the condition.

A seizure can also occur in a supine position, even during sleep, and the most common fainting very rarely occurs in a supine position.

Loss of consciousness is caused by external factors, for example, psycho-emotional stress.

There are significant differences between convulsive movements. When you faint, the muscles contract and relax alternately and abruptly. Epileptic seizures are distinguished by generalized forms, when the muscles are blocked by a spasm for several minutes, a clonic spasm occurs.

Usually the phenomenon lasts a matter of seconds, the victim remembers the events taking place around him.

Overexcitability of the nervous system leads to hysterical attacks, which can quite realistically result in fainting.

Vasovagal syncope

Medical practice shows that of all fainting conditions, about half are vasovagal syncope. It appears in completely healthy people and can sometimes recur.

It can occur in a state of excitement, fear, severe fatigue, severe pain. Accompanied by arterial hypotension, bradycardia, pallor.

The phenomenon proceeds as follows. Sympathetic tone increases sharply; in some people, such an increase in sympathetic tone is unnecessary and can provoke a sharp increase in heart contractions. The nerves send intense impulses to the brain, this is accompanied by a decrease in sympathetic tone and an increase in parasympathetic tone. As a result, bradycardia develops, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure and fainting. Consciousness is restored if the patient is placed in a supine position and his legs are raised.

Vasodepressor syncope is noted by doctors as a common cause of loss of consciousness. The main reasons are severe pain and emotional stress. The muscular artery dilates, the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle falls, and blood flow decreases. It often occurs in men with severe pain.

The onset of unconsciousness does not occur immediately; initially, weakness, ringing in the ears, enlarged pupils, blurred vision, dizziness, and increased sweating appear. Then the patient loses his balance and loses consciousness. The unconscious patient is immobilized and experiences convulsions.

Blood pressure often drops to 60 mm. Bradycardia occurs. The skin is pale.

Orthostatic syncope

Such fainting develops when standing up suddenly or moving from a lying position to a standing position. The reason is a violation of the reflex mechanisms that ensure the maintenance of blood pressure when moving to a standing position. In healthy people, blood pressure decreases by 10 mmHg. Art. the heart rate increases by 15 in 1 minute, but the body’s condition quickly normalizes due to the reflex narrowing of the blood arteries.

There are two types of such fainting.

Hyperadrenergic orthostatic syncope occurs in patients with autonomic dysfunction, their manifestation is. Fainting is characterized by pronounced tachycardia.

Loss of consciousness in such a patient occurs abruptly, usually preceded by a short pre-fainting state. In a supine position, consciousness quickly returns. Further changes in the patient's position do not cause repeated fainting.

Hypoadrenergic orthostatic fainting develops with orthostatic hypotension, which is based on autonomic polyneuropathy with progressive autonomic failure, which occurs primarily or secondary (with diabetes mellitus, other pathologies).

In a supine state, the victim’s blood pressure is often elevated. Heart rate remains unchanged.

A common cause of such conditions may be long-term lying in a supine position or being in weightlessness (when flying into space).

Help with fainting

In a person in a state of loss of consciousness, the muscles of the tongue are relaxed and asphyxia may occur. It is strongly recommended to provide emergency assistance to the victim: he is placed on his side and the tongue is fixed so that it does not fall into the larynx.

It is necessary to free a person from restrictive clothing. It is very important to ensure blood flow to the brain. Next, you need to call an ambulance, because it is impossible to clearly recognize the cause of unconsciousness, for example, to distinguish fainting from coma. Ammonia, which is given to the victim to smell, often helps a lot.

Fainting, or momentary loss of consciousness, is disturbance of consciousness and balance, which occurs when the brain temporarily shuts down due to insufficient blood supply. Although cases of fainting are more common among teenagers and older adults, average person experiences fainting during one or another period of life.

There are at least eight possible causes of fainting. According to the causes, syncope can be classified: neurogenic, idiopathic, cardiovascular, vasovagal, vestibular, metabolic, hypotensive, syncope in psychiatric diseases. Knowing about these potential causes of fainting, you can actively prevent them. Some patients, before syncope develops, experience dizziness, palpitations, blurred vision or hearing, their skin becomes covered cold sweat If you quickly loosen your tie or lie down on the sofa, you can interrupt the attack on pre-fainting stage.

1. Neurogenic syncope or syncope of nervous origin.
The most common reason why people experience neurogenic fainting is a reflex of the peripheral nervous system that controls blood pressure. Doctors diagnose the neurogenic nature of fainting in 24% of all cases. This type of syncopation usually occurs in people with low blood volume due to low sodium intake or high sodium losses due to diuretics. In stressful situations, for example, very high ambient temperature, sympathetic The nervous system reflexively dilates the veins to increase sweating and heat loss.

Dilatation of blood vessels causes a sharp drop in venous return to the heart. The heart reacts to changes by developing tachycardia. The merit of the wanderer nerve parasympathetic nervous system is to slow down the heart rate. Inadequate blood flow to the brain causes fainting. Soon after the patient falls, the blood supply to the brain increases and he quickly comes to his senses.

2. Idiopathic fainting or loss of consciousness of unknown origin.

Unfortunately, 24% fainting, even after a complete diagnosis, no specific cause is found. Such cases of fainting are treated mainly symptomatic means.

3. Loss of consciousness during insufficiency blood circulation
About 18% of fainting fits into this category. They may be caused by structural abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels leading to the brain ( cerebral ischemia). In other cases, it may be due to abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

4. Hypotensive syncope or syncope postural origin.
About 11% I have fainting postural origin . Sudden transition from lying down to a standing position leads to a drop in blood pressure.

5. Metabolic syncope or high/low blood sugar syncope.
The cause in this case is the development of hypo- or hyperglycemia. An overdose of diabetic medications is accompanied by very low blood sugar and leads to syncope. Insulin deficiency in type 1 diabetes can lead to very high blood glucose levels and secondary high levels of ketone bodies. This leads to a more serious type of syncope, where the patient may fall into a coma if the condition is not treated promptly.

6. Neuropathological fainting or loss of consciousness due to diseases of the central nervous system.
This may happen due to pressure tumors on brain tissue or due to bleeding into the brain (hematoma).

7. Loss of consciousness in mental illness.
May be observed with hysteria and anxiety.

8. Situational fainting.
Loss of consciousness occurs with severe emotional shock, anxiety, and worry.

If in Kyiv the excess is insignificant - only two percent, then in other regions of Ukraine the situation is different. For example, in the Chernihiv region last week there were 25 percent more patients than normal. What strain of influenza is observed in the country? What should you do to avoid getting sick? These questions were answered by FACTS by the head of the department of respiratory and other viral infections at the Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases. L. Gromashevsky AMS of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences Alla Mironenko.

“Currently, the H3N2 flu “A/Perth” is widespread in Ukraine, which is named after the Australian city of Perth, where the disease was first identified,” explains Alla Mironenko. “This is exactly the strain we predicted in the fall. For Ukrainians, this is a relatively new type of flu, so the population does not have developed immunity. In Kyiv, the epidemic threshold has been exceeded slightly, but the infection is spreading quite intensively. There are no fewer sick people.

— How can those who did not get vaccinated on time protect themselves now?

— Before going outside, it is advisable to lubricate the nasal cavity with oxolinic ointment. For unvaccinated people, I recommend spending less time in crowded places and limiting contact with those who are already sick. If it is impossible to avoid contact with patients, you should remember about gauze bandages, taking into account the rules for their use.

Bandages need to be changed every two to three hours. Some people take anti-flu medications for prevention, which your therapist will help you choose. Vitamin C is very useful. For prevention, it is advisable to take one or two tablets a day, and for those with the flu, four to six. Let me remind you that people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract must treat acidic foods with caution. Naturally, this does not exclude other types of treatment: taking antiviral drugs, bed rest, hot drinks.

— Is it necessary to bring down a high temperature during influenza or ARVI?

— At elevated temperatures, the body produces protective interferon, which is necessary to fight infection. If the temperature is lowered, the healing process is delayed. Therefore, we usually do not recommend doing this until the thermometer rises above 38.5. But if the patient does not tolerate the temperature well, antipyretics can be taken. In young children, a high temperature can cause convulsions, so in such cases it is better to bring it down and call a doctor.

— How to distinguish the flu from a cold?

— If the symptoms of a cold appear gradually, then the flu makes itself felt almost immediately. The temperature of 39-40 degrees may jump in the first hours of illness, and a little later chest pain appears. A person feels hot and cold, he feels weakness, aches in the body and joints, and his eyelids seem to become “heavier.” With such health, the patient is simply unable to go to work and is forced to stay at home and get treatment. But as soon as the temperature drops and his health improves a little, he immediately forgets about medications and bed rest and hurries to go out into the public. This is the most common mistake. Due to the fact that the virus affects blood vessels, with any sudden movement a person risks fainting. Therefore, the flu cannot be carried on your feet.

The severity of the disease can only be determined by a doctor who examines the patient and listens to how his lungs work. Therefore, you should always contact a specialist.

— Now some media have reported that you can still get a flu shot. Is it so?

— Modern flu vaccines are not dangerous. The question is whether they are effective today. The principle of the vaccine is as follows: within two weeks after vaccination, the human body produces antibodies to the virus. This is only possible if the person does not get sick during this period. Now, when the virus is “walking” through the streets, this cannot be guaranteed.

Flu or cold? The symptoms are similar, the treatment is different. © Thinkstock

In autumn and winter, not many people manage to escape a runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat and other ailments associated with outbreaks of viral diseases - influenza or ARVI.

The symptoms of flu and colds are somewhat similar. But it only seems so. In fact, these are two different diseases, the treatment of which is very different: often a cold can be cured with herbs and teas, but for the flu you cannot do without medications. Therefore, by self-medicating, you can harm your health, for example, if, with a slight ailment, you immediately grab antibiotics, or if you have a temperature of 39, you think that “it will go away on its own.”

According to doctors, the most correct way out, even if you are slightly unwell, is to consult a doctor who will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Going to the doctor is especially important if your child is sick.

Flu or ARVI? How to tell them apart

It is especially important for those who self-medicate, avoiding a visit to the doctor.

1. Stuffy nose, severe runny nose.

2. Redness and sore throat.

3. Fever. Attention! With colds and ARVI, the temperature rarely rises above 38 °C.

4. Cough - dry, hacking, appears immediately.

5. The disease develops gradually. Often accompanied by a headache, there is a feeling like a “cast iron head.”

Flu symptoms

1. The flu begins abruptly: within 2-4 hours the temperature rises to 39 °C and above. As a rule, it lasts 3-4 days.

2. Dizziness, “aches” in the body (bones and joints).

3. Severe headache, in the temples and in the eye area; sweat, chills, fear of light.

5. Cough, runny nose, and nasal congestion do not appear immediately, usually within 2-3 days.

Doctor's advice. If you are sick or feel that you are getting sick, do not be selfish - do not infect others. Be sure to consult a doctor and start treatment.

With ARVI, the sick person will be safe for others within 5 days. If you have the flu, you will have to stay at home for at least 7 days.

Attention! For ARVI and influenza, there is no need to take antibiotics. They have no effect on viruses!

Almonds protect against the flu

Recently, British researchers have found a new way to prevent influenza. It's almonds! According to scientists, almond peel has high antiviral activity and stimulates the immune system. Thus, the components of brown almond husk stimulate white blood cells, which are responsible for detecting and suppressing viral agents that have entered the human body.
According to experts, constant consumption of almonds (80-100 g per day) is the best prevention of viral diseases - influenza and ARVI.

Learn more about how to treat flu and colds, read the articles.

Dizziness during ARVI in an adult often occurs in addition to typical symptoms: severe migraine, runny nose and body pain (myalgia, arthralgia and osteoalgia). Another name for dizziness is “vertigo syndrome.” ARVI stands for “acute respiratory viral infection.”

Dizziness with ARVI is a common occurrence

Dizziness is also one of the typical flu symptoms. Dizziness does not disappear within 2-4 days, like most other symptoms, but lasts for several weeks with ARVI. If dizziness occurs in the context of a medical condition, there are various possible causes:

Cardiovascular disorders: blood pressure that is too low (hypotension) or high (hypertension). With a strong decrease in blood pressure, vertigo syndrome occurs with visual disturbances, migraines, tinnitus and short loss of consciousness.
Otological diseases: mainly inflammatory diseases of the inner ear affect the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. If the inner ear becomes inflamed, you may experience severe dizziness and a feeling of unsteadiness. In addition, it also leads to tinnitus and deafness.
Pregnancy.
Problems of the cervical spine due to tension during ARVI: in addition to pain and muscle tension, patients often complain of vertigo syndrome.

After ARVI, there is no need to treat dizziness. As a rule, it is temporary and does not cause complications.

Is vertigo syndrome dangerous with influenza?

Why does vertigo syndrome occur with influenza and is there anything that needs to be done? Flu is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. To lower the temperature, the body dilates the peripheral blood vessels of the skin to release heat into the environment. Because the volume of blood remains the same but is distributed over a larger space, the blood pressure in the vessels decreases. Symptomatic hypotension can lead to mild cerebral hypoperfusion: headache and dizziness.

Dizziness with the flu may be a consequence of intoxication

Additionally, dizziness with the flu can also be a direct result of the infection.

Inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx are typical for ARVI. The Eustachian tube connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear and is responsible for ventilation as well as pressure equalization.

If the infection spreads into the Eustachian tube, it may swell, become blocked (Eustachian tube catarrh), and no longer do its job. Due to the resulting negative pressure and lack of ventilation, there is an increased risk of infection of the middle or inner ear with viruses or bacteria (secondary infection). This condition can cause fluid to accumulate in the eardrum.

A cold often causes uncomfortable tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulders due to an increase in body temperature. Tension can affect blood flow and therefore oxygen supply to the head. Just like low blood pressure, dizziness with a runny nose rarely occurs in these cases.

Mild dizziness, nausea and cough during ARVI do not pose a threat to the patient’s health. However, other symptoms such as severe ear pain (otalgia), dizziness, weakness, runny nose, and hearing loss are signs of serious inflammation in the middle or inner ear. The above symptoms may cause permanent ear damage. In rare cases, the inflammation can spread to the meninges, leading to life-threatening meningitis.

Why does dizziness occur during a cold?

Ear congestion often occurs with a runny nose

If your ears become clogged during a cold, your body will no longer be able to properly balance pressure during movement, speech, coughing or sneezing. This is because the connection between the inner ear and the surface of the throat (Eustachian tube) becomes blocked or swollen. Dizziness during a cold occurs due to inflammation of the middle or inner ear. But it can also be a sign of inflammation of the lungs or heart muscle.

Ear inflammation due to a cold is not common. It indicates that viruses or bacteria have migrated upward from the mucous membranes to the nasopharynx area. The nasopharyngeal space, as mentioned above, is connected to the inner ear through the so-called Eustachian tube. Through it, bacteria and viruses can enter the ears and cause inflammation. The Eustachian tube helps equalize pressure when speaking, coughing, or sneezing. If the ears are blocked during a cold, the Eustachian tube swells and the pressure begins to increase greatly.

An infection in the middle ear can lead to permanent hearing loss. Sometimes the resulting pus causes very severe pain.

Ear pain due to otitis media

What complications arise from colds and acute respiratory viral infections?

With a cold, the mucous membranes in the nose and throat weaken due to a viral attack. They become more susceptible to other pathogens. In addition, bacteria can attack the body. The most common complication of colds and flu is inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis), tonsils (tonsillitis), or lungs (pneumonia).

Symptoms of sinusitis

If there is heaviness in the frontal region, this is a sign of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. Heaviness and acute pain in the paranasal region during a cold indicates a secondary bacterial infection. With sinusitis, the cheek or area above the teeth hurts. Since such pain is rare, it is often confused with toothache.

Symptoms of tonsillitis

Inflammation of the tonsils is primarily associated with difficulty swallowing and pain during conversation. The tonsils become red and swollen with tonsillitis. Bad breath often occurs. Severe dizziness with a runny nose often occurs, especially in an adult patient. It should be noted that tonsillitis must be treated with an antibacterial agent. Other treatments should only be used after consulting a doctor.

Symptoms of pneumonia

Colds often cause bronchitis or pneumonia. The main symptoms are severe cough and high body temperature. In addition, when you cough, the sputum is reddish-brown in color. Patients feel severe weakness, rhinitis, fatigue and nausea. Pneumonia can be very dangerous for the health of young children and elderly patients. Pneumonia causes neck pain in addition to other cold symptoms.