Can you faint from pain? Brief loss of consciousness

One of the most common symptoms of diseases internal organs fainting or syncopation. Many people, having experienced such a state, wonder, why can one faint and how can it be prevented? The reasons are varied, ranging from a long stay in stuffiness, ending with serious diseases of the brain. Therefore, install real reason loss of consciousness can only be done by a doctor after complex diagnostics using laboratory and instrumental methods examinations. Therapy is entirely dependent on the causative factor why a person faints and may include drug and non-drug methods.

About the state

Fainting can occur both from banal overwork, and as a result of serious pathologies

Fainting is very common, and, as a rule, it is almost impossible to quickly identify the cause of its occurrence. Loss of consciousness may be associated with a sharp drop in blood pressure, a decrease in blood glucose levels, disorders cerebral circulation, pregnancy, etc. All of these factors lead to insufficient blood supply to the central nervous system, which is accompanied by the development of syncope.

According to medical statistics, every person at least once in his life lost consciousness.

As a rule, the maximum number of cases of syncope is observed in people aged 10 to 35 years, which is associated with the peculiarities of work. endocrine system. Every third person has repeated cases of fainting, which is explained by the preservation of the original cause in the body.

The multiplicity of reasons why a person may faint makes it difficult to quickly make a correct diagnosis, preventing an effective treatment from being selected.

Main reasons

Important aspect maintaining the level of consciousness - adequate blood supply to the brain through cerebral vessels. Any changes in it lead to the development of syncope. The main factors leading to such hemodynamic disorders are as follows:

decrease in the amount of blood pumped out of the heart cardiovascular failure against the background of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, etc.);
lumen reduction cerebral arteries against the background of atherosclerosis or their spasm;
a sharp rise of a person from a horizontal to a vertical position, which leads to a redistribution of blood.

narrowing of the lumen cerebral arteries occurs most frequently. A similar situation can occur as a result of a strong psycho-emotional overstrain, pain syndrome, prolonged coughing or sneezing, irritation vagus nerve, as well as at various diseases internal organs. Usually, similar factors lead to a sudden loss of consciousness, which may be preceded by dizziness, nausea, and other nonspecific signs.

In addition to changing the lumen of the arteries that feed the brain, it is possible to reduce the level of oxygen in the blood. Similar state observed in patients with anemia of any origin, in case of poisoning with certain substances, as well as lesions bronchopulmonary system(bronchial asthma, etc.). It is important to remember that in about half of the cases, doctors cannot determine the cause of the respiratory or vascular insufficiency causing sudden fainting.

Clinical manifestations

Loss of consciousness lasts for several minutes, and in exceptional cases can be delayed up to half an hour. At the same time, when a woman fainted or a man suddenly lost consciousness, certain harbingers of such a state can always be distinguished. In this regard, doctors distinguish three individual stages syncope: the precursor phase, the syncope itself, and the recovery phase. Symptoms in various people can vary significantly, depending on immediate cause fainting state.

The precursor period, or presyncope phase, lasts from a couple of seconds to several minutes. The person begins to experience general weakness, dizziness, feeling short of breath, possible nausea, visual disturbances and ringing in the ears, as well as others non-specific symptoms. If the patient manages to sit down or lie down, then syncopation may not occur, since in such positions cerebral blood flow usually recover. During the onset of syncope, a person can fall and get a head injury, bruises, fractures, etc. In this regard, this condition is very dangerous.

The fainting period itself is characterized by loss of consciousness varying degrees depths. The patient is noted shallow breathing, rapid pulse, muscle relaxation, decreased pupillary reaction to light. Tendon reflexes are completely preserved.

If fainting occurs unexpectedly, then there is a high probability of injury

Possible involuntary urination or convulsive syndrome. Therefore, patients and physicians should be aware that single convulsions should never lead to a diagnosis of epilepsy.

The recovery period lasts from 10 minutes to 1-2 hours. At the same time, the patient experiences general overwork, muscle strength and accuracy of movements are reduced, dizziness may persist, low level blood pressure. It is difficult for the patient to get up, dryness is felt in the mouth, there is excessive sweating. It is important to note that the person remembers everything that happened to him before the syncopation.

Diagnostic measures

Correct staging diagnosis is possible only with an integrated approach to the diagnostic process. It is important to note that with loss of consciousness, in addition to emergency care, the doctor should rule out serious illness such as acute myocardial infarction, internal bleeding, thromboembolism pulmonary artery etc. At the next stage of the examination, the patient should be examined for lesions of the central nervous system, including oncological diseases, as well as violations of the patency of the cerebral arteries. Each patient needs to consult with doctors of various specialties: cardiologist, epileptologist, endocrinologist, etc.

Consultation may be needed to determine the cause of fainting narrow specialists

In addition, each patient must pass a general blood and urine test, the level of glucose in the blood must be examined, a glucose tolerance test and other biochemical procedures are performed. From instrumental methods within the framework of rendering medical care it is recommended to carry out electrocardiography, Echo KG, ultrasonography cerebral circulation, etc. If you suspect tumor processes of the brain showing computed or magnetic resonance imaging.

Effective treatment

Therapy fainting completely determined by the cause of their occurrence, since without its elimination, completely get rid of similar symptoms impossible. If a patient has a disease associated with psycho-emotional stress, then he should consult a psychotherapist. If diagnosed malignant neoplasm, then in such cases, the operation is indicated.

If the patient experiences syncope often indoors, on the street, subway or other places and can be dangerous, the use of drugs is indicated. The drugs of choice are B-blockers (Metoprolol, Nebivolol, etc.), which allow normalizing vascular tone and cardiac activity. In addition, it is possible to use Scopolamine, Ephedrine, etc.

Between attacks, the patient may be prescribed drug treatment

The appointment of any medicines should always be carried out only by a doctor, taking into account the patient's indications and contraindications to therapy.

Anyone can faint. This condition is characterized by a short-term loss of consciousness, as well as a number of other symptoms. In a healthy person, syncopation can occur after a bath, in women during menstruation, with a sharp change in body position from horizontal to vertical in the morning, etc. best advice in the event of fainting, immediately contact medical institution, since the causes of loss of consciousness can be quite serious.

In the 19th century, ladies from high society very often lost consciousness. This happened according to different reasons: with bad news, from heat or fright. At that time, doctors justified this phenomenon by malnutrition or the result of wearing tight corsets. How to faint now? To do this, it is not at all necessary to wear clothes that tighten your chest or exhaust yourself with hunger - this phenomenon can affect almost everyone.

What is fainting

Fainting is a short-term loss of consciousness, which occurs quite suddenly and is most often associated with a metabolic disorder in the brain. The reasons for the occurrence of such a situation may be different - you can really lose consciousness due to malnutrition or lack of fresh air. Some people can faint in very specific situations: at the sight of blood, a small mouse, or a huge bear.

How to faint on purpose? Oddly enough, but this question worries many. Actors very often have to lose consciousness on stage, and this must be done as believably as possible. Some people faint on purpose to draw attention to themselves. Fortunately or unfortunately, a person cannot control his consciousness, so it is almost impossible to purposefully lose it. However, there are several recommendations that can trigger this process.

How to faint

First of all, it is worth noting that causing loss of consciousness artificially not safe. This may entail enough serious consequences, which, in turn, can be accompanied by negative phenomena.

Women's tricks have always been admired by others. Passing out is a great way to get a young man's attention. Indeed, he would not ignore such an incident, would he? Nevertheless, it should be recalled once again that artificial loss of consciousness can provoke quite serious problems with health, in particular with the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Moreover, not knowing how to faint quickly and correctly, you can hit your head hard.

How can you cause loss of consciousness?

There are several ways that may help with the issue of how to faint on purpose. They are mostly caused by impaired blood circulation or lack of oxygen in the brain. In addition, hyperventilation of the lungs can also provoke a short-term loss of consciousness.

So, for example, you can find some tips on how to faint. Here is one of them: you need to do several deep squats (about 20), stand up sharply, close your mouth thumb hands and blow into it with all your might. The likelihood that after this you will lose consciousness is maximum. When doing such an experiment with your body, it would be wise to worry about the safety of the fall in advance. To do this, it is better to put pillows or mattresses on the floor, and also remove all furniture with sharp corners away.

How to pass out

Of course, such an experiment is not suitable for all cases. Agree, in order to attract the attention of outsiders, this method is irrelevant. You won’t squat hard next to a young man, and then blow into your finger with all your might. Is there one more enough effective method: first you need to squat down, then stand up sharply, hold your breath and at the same time try to strain all the muscles of the body as much as possible. Most likely, after this loss of consciousness will follow immediately.

There is another option to lose consciousness artificially. It is worth immediately warning everyone, this is quite dangerous way. You just need to pass yourself a carotid artery. First you need to do a few deep breaths and exhalation, and then, holding your breath for a few seconds, press on carotid artery. This method must be used very carefully.

All these methods are good when you need to faint just like that, for the sake of the experiment. And if the situation requires you to lose consciousness, but in such a way that it looks natural?

How to lose consciousness

Of course, at young man a girl is unlikely to squat or pinch her carotid artery. Moreover, such experiments can lead to very undesirable consequences. So, for example, artificial syncope can cause quite a serious oxygen starvation and, consequently, to whom. In addition, during a short-term loss of consciousness, convulsions can be observed - not a very pleasant sight.

That is why it is worth turning to safer ways to simulate fainting. Everyone can artistically play a fainting state, and even more so for girls. To begin with, it is worth noting that the loss of consciousness itself is accompanied by certain signs, so there is no need to sharp falls. So, in order to simulate a fainting state, you need to gradually slow down your speech, often blink your eyes and wince. Others should get the impression that you feel bad and you are trying to concentrate your attention.

How to mimic fainting

Fake fainting begins primarily with slow speech and attempts to concentrate. Then you need to complain to others about being unwell and ask for help (bring water or take it to fresh air). And after that, while moving, you need to show all your acting skills - gently stumble and fall. Here, too, there are several nuances: it is desirable to fall on your knees, and only then completely lower the entire body. It is worth paying attention to one detail - in no case should you put your hands forward when falling, as this is defensive reaction organism.

After that, you need to close your eyes and relax as much as possible. If suddenly someone from those around you raises your hand, it should naturally return to its original position. Only in this case, the fainting will look realistic and truthful. You should not lie too long - someone may be frightened in earnest and call an ambulance brigade.

Now seriously

Playing a performance in front of others is a simple matter. But how to behave if a person really fainted, the reasons for which are not known to anyone? First of all, it is necessary to ensure proper blood flow to the brain, for this you need to put the victim on his back and slightly raise his legs. It will be important to ensure maximum flow fresh air. And then you can bring ammonia to your nose or just sprinkle on your face cold water. It is good if there are people nearby who can help the victim, who has lost consciousness.

But what if you are alone in this situation? It is clear that a person cannot control his mind and direct his actions. However, as already mentioned, fainting is preceded by some signs that eloquently signal the upcoming state.

First aid

It is worth noting that the natural loss of consciousness is a phenomenon worth paying attention to. Types of fainting allow you to determine the presence of some pathology, and timely admission to the hospital will help to avoid serious complications.

Fainting is accompanied various symptoms. Before losing consciousness, a person experiences weakness and dizziness, sounds seem to move away, appear dark spots before your eyes. In this case, you need to lower yourself as quickly as possible so as not to harm your body. After that, you should try to horizontal position and raise your legs slightly above head level, as well as provide maximum fresh air.

You should not resort to such dubious methods that can provoke a loss of consciousness. Sometimes, in order for others to really think so, it is enough just to show a little artistry and exclaim: “Ah, I almost fainted!”

What are the causes of loss of consciousness
Holding indirect massage hearts artificial respiration

A sharp loss of consciousness by a person, as a rule, is closely related to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system. During this state, people lose their balance and fall, while not even able to move their limbs. During the period of loss of consciousness, only convulsions are possible. People in this state stop responding to others, moreover, they lose the ability to think logically and give answers to the questions asked of them.

Causes

To date, several reasons are known, due to which the risk of losing consciousness increases. Here is a list of the main reasons sudden loss consciousness:

The first is the lack of blood supply to the brain;
The second is the lack of nutrition for the brain;
The third is low oxygen content in the blood;
The fourth is incorrect work, in which uncharacteristic discharges occur in the area of \u200b\u200bthe brain.

These and other irregularities indicate possibly temporary ailments or serious health problems.

These reasons will be discussed in more detail below.

The lack of blood supply to the brain can occur:

Such a reason may be too pronounced work vegetative system person. Usually such a reaction occurs due to external stimuli or non-standard situations. For example: the usual fright, various experiences, a small amount of oxygen in the human blood.
Problems in the field of cardiology can also cause this reason loss of consciousness. This happens due to a decrease in cardiac output of blood in the human body. Such cases often end in myocardial infarction. It also occurs due to an incorrect rhythm during the work of the heart. The problem may be caused by frequent nerve impulses that accompany the ventricles and atria. After these troubles, as a rule, pathologies arise. various types. Interruptions during contractions are especially acute, the organs do not receive the right amount of blood in a timely manner for their normal operation. And all this significantly affects the work of the human brain.

By the way, on the cardiogram, you can easily notice the consequences of unnatural inflow and outflow of blood in the body. It clearly displays abnormal nerve processes in the region of the ventricle. However, they almost never cause loss of consciousness. Some people do not notice this problem in themselves and live in their usual mode. All these causes and symptoms of fainting should be known and be able to partially eliminate them on the spot!

Quite often, people who have lost consciousness long time there is a reduced arterial pressure. People who have problems with the use of antihypertensive drugs are also at risk, the elderly are no exception to this. Abrupt change the position of the human body, as a rule, causes this cause. For example, you can stand up abruptly, that is, change the sitting or lying position. During the passivity of the limbs, there is a delay in the work of the vessels, and with rapid movement, they are not able to quickly return to the desired shape. This is the reason for the decrease in blood pressure and blood flow to the brain of the body.
Due to significant changes in large blood vessels, loss of consciousness may also occur. Since it is these vessels that feed the brain. This problem can lead to a disease called atherosclerosis. With this disease, the walls and gaps in the vessels are fastened.
Also, quite often, loss of consciousness can be caused by the presence of blood clots. There is a possibility that they partially or completely close the passage through the blood vessels. In most cases, clots form due to surgical intervention. Quite often, this problem occurs after heart valve replacement surgery. It is curious that the occurrence of blood clots is observed at any age, so that every person can have them. People who are at risk of this type of blockage are prescribed special medications that should be taken on an ongoing basis. There are still cases when blood clots form in the vessels due to incorrect operation heart rhythm. For such problems, it is also prescribed special preparations for the reception.
Anaphylactic shock can also cause loss of consciousness. Such shock often occurs due to a rather severe allergic reaction, which can be caused by any drug. It can also cause loss of consciousness infectious shock which may appear after serious illnesses. This condition can cause dilation in the area of the blood vessels, which will lead to a significant increase in the outflow of blood to the area of the heart. Such a reaction can be provoked by vasodilating components in medicines. At the same time, the permeability of the blood capillaries occurs, as a result, they begin to work with even greater force. All of the above reasons also disrupt blood flow to the human brain.

If a person has found these symptoms in himself, he should immediately seek help from a qualified specialist, who, in turn, will have to immediately conduct an examination and prescribe gentle tests. Only after receiving all the results it will be possible to put accurate diagnosis. As a result, the patient will need to undergo several procedures:

visit a neurologist to determine the possible presence of vascular dystonia
visit a general practitioner to determine the possibility of hypotension, a disease in which low blood pressure can be observed. Also, the doctor must conduct several procedures to identify the patient's tendency to hypertension.
be sure to undergo an ECHO procedure, in other words, an ultrasound of the heart, which will help determine the presence of any defects and heart failure.
there is an option that the patient will be offered to do a Doppler ultrasound, to study blood vessels and various pathologies in them.

Loss of consciousness with a lack of oxygen in the blood occurs with the following diseases:

Loss of consciousness in children and women for this reason is possible if the air that a person inhales does not contain the required amount of oxygen. Because of this, in stuffy rooms, there is often a risk of fainting and dizziness.
Also, loss of consciousness in adolescents can be caused by various diseases in the lung area, one of these diseases is bronchial asthma. This problem is especially true for people who suffer chronically from such ailments. Frequent cough may cause various violations mechanism in the work of the lungs, due to which there is a significant lack of oxygen during inspiration. Also during this there is a possibility of manifestation of insufficient cardiac output.
Anemia is one of the most common causes of loss of consciousness. As a result low content hemoglobin in the blood, which should not fall below 70 g / l. However, fainting is possible with high content this substance in human body. But most often it happens in stuffy rooms.
Poisoning with poisonous oxygen oxide is also often the cause of loss of consciousness. This gas cannot be seen and is odorless and tasteless. Oxygen oxide can enter the body quite easily. For example, when melting the stove or while using gas with the hoods turned off. Also, this gas comes from the exhaust pipes of cars, so it is not recommended to be in the cab of the car if it is not ventilated. This gas enters the lungs of a person quite easily, after which it immediately combines with hemoglobin. As a result, the paths to the passage are closed. pure oxygen into the blood. As a result, oxygen starvation occurs in the body. There is a possibility of problems in the work of the heart.

To quickly solve problems with loss of consciousness for these reasons, you need to pass a series of tests and undergo mandatory procedures. So it's important enough:

take a general blood test. This will help to see the number and condition of all bodies in the blood of the human body, such as red blood cells and hemoglobin. With the help of this analysis, the presence of asthma in the patient is also checked.
it is necessary to make an x-ray in the area of the lungs. This procedure will help check the body for the presence of bronchitis and other diseases, as well as oncological changes.
spirography is also required. It will help determine the correctness of breathing and the strength of a person's exhalations.
you may need to visit a specialist allergic reactions. Indeed, most allergens in external environment cause such a state.

Syncopal conditions in violation of the oxygen supply of the human brain, mainly occur when diabetes.

People suffering from diabetes can make the mistake of injecting the wrong dose of insulin into the body. Which leads to a significant decrease in blood sugar, resulting in a violation of brain metabolism and erroneous receipt of nerve impulses.
Loss of consciousness is observed both with an excess amount of insulin in the body, as well as with its deficiency. With a lack of insulin, the blood is saturated big amount glucose, which harms many organs that are associated with these processes, as a result, a change in metabolism occurs. Often a person suffering for such reasons may be unpleasant to smell of acetone vapor.

Lactic acid coma can also cause loss of consciousness. In this case, there are diseases that are associated with kidney failure. The patient's blood is saturated with a huge mass of lactic acid. In this case, the smell of acetone is not felt.

In any case, it is necessary to check the patient for the presence of diabetes. To do this, you need to donate blood to the laboratory, this analysis must be done on an empty stomach. This blood test will tell a lot about the diseases of a person. For example, the analysis showed increased content glucose in capillary blood, which means that insulin does not greatly affect the suppression of its production. To clarify the diagnosis, you need to conduct another analysis. After donating blood on an empty stomach, as a rule, the patient is given a drink. special dose glucose solution, after which the procedure is repeated. If glucose exceeds the norm, then a person definitely has diabetes mellitus.

The result of urinalysis also determines the presence of glucose. In a healthy person, this substance cannot be in the urine. To fully determine the diagnosis of diabetes, after carrying out the prescribed procedures for several weeks, doctors measure the level of hemoglobin.

The pancreas is responsible for the production of insulin, so doctors often order patients to do an ultrasound. Such an examination helps to determine the pathology in this organ and helps to see the causes of this disease.

A failure in the transmission of impulses according to the axioms of the brain or the occurrence of pathological discharges in the neurons of the brain occur under such conditions:

1. This reason quite often causes a loss of consciousness in a person. Often he has seizures that recur with a certain frequency. This happens thanks to the neurons in the brain. It is extremely easy to determine the presence of a seizure in a person, at this moment there are periodic twitches of muscles that are in a tense state.

2. Loss of consciousness when receiving craniocerebral injuries, as a result strong blows head. At the same time, bruises, concussions, tumors in the brain are possible. After such injuries, the displacement of areas of both hemispheres of the brain is likely. Compression occurs, resulting in increased intracranial pressure. These processes greatly complicate the work of the human brain. If the blow was not strong and the damage was not significant, then consciousness will return within a few minutes and there will be no significant changes in the body. However, in the event of severe injuries, edema and rupture of some vessels are possible. In critical cases, a person may fall into a coma.

3. Any kind of stroke, such as ischemic or hemorrhagic, can also be the cause frequent fainting. These species have many differences from each other. Ischemic stroke causes improper blood supply to the cerebral cortex, causing blockages. Often people who take low-quality alcohol in large doses or tinctures with a high percentage of alcohol. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs as a result of rupture of blood vessels in the cerebral cortex. This is the cause of cerebral hemorrhage, quite often this leads to the death of the patient.

The two types of stroke have something in common, this is the cause of their occurrence. These diseases occur with constant jumps in blood pressure, when it quickly rises and decreases at the same rate. Therefore, it is necessary to be examined in a timely manner for the presence of problems in this area.

First aid

Any person should be able to provide first aid, if suddenly there was a case of loss of consciousness before his eyes. Here are some tips that can help save the life of another person. it is a sudden and dangerous thing.

Quite often, people lose consciousness when they are in stuffy rooms. In such cases, the body does not receive the right amount of necessary oxygen. Also, this can happen due to frequent experiences and unrest. If a person suddenly lost consciousness for these reasons, the following measures should be taken:

a person needs to free his throat, remove the scarf, unbutton the buttons on the collar, untie the tie;
provide a room with sick fresh air or, if possible, take him outside;
in order for a person to wake up, it is necessary to take a cotton swab moistened with ammonia and bring it to his respiratory tract;
if a person does not regain consciousness, he needs to provide a safe and comfortable body position. good decision will turn it on its side, while making sure that the tongue does not sink, which can cause suffocation. It is best to check this sign in the first seconds, for this you will need to unclench the jaws of the victim with your fingers or other suitable objects. If necessary, you should fix the tongue to the cheek in the oral cavity. It is very important that the airway is completely open;
it is also quite important to check the presence of a pulse in a person and the correctness of breathing in an unconscious state;
if the patient has no pulse and breathing, it is necessary to give him a heart massage and artificial respiration. It is good if this procedure is carried out by an experienced person;
in such a situation, you should immediately call ambulance. And before export, it is required to accurately describe all the symptoms of the patient to the doctors.

There are situations when a person is not a witness to how another loses consciousness. In this case, it is necessary to take the following measures:

try to find witnesses who noticed how the person lost consciousness. Perhaps someone knows the reason for this incident. It is necessary to check the pockets of the victim, it is likely that there will be special drugs that can help bring him to his senses. People suffering from chronic diseases of this kind often carry medicines with them;
you also need to inspect for injuries in a person who has fainted. If bleeding is detected, you need to try to stop it before the ambulance arrives;
it is important to determine the pulse and check for breathing in a person. To check the pulse, you need to feel with two fingers thyroid cartilage the victim. Then lower them a little lower.

Usually in this area the pulse is felt well;

if a person is still warm, but he has no pulse and breathing, it is required to check the reaction of the pupils to light. It often happens that a person clinical death still responds well to light rays. You can check this in this way: open the patient's eyes closed for centuries, if he is alive, then the pupils will sharply begin to narrow. If the patient initially lies with open eyes, it is worth covering them with your palm or any dark cloth for a few seconds, then carry out the previous action. If the incident happened at night or late in the evening, you can use a flashlight or mobile phone. There is another way to check the reaction of the eye. For this handkerchief or another soft cloth it is necessary to touch the eyelids of the victim. If a person is alive, he will immediately begin to blink, regardless of his condition. This is a natural reaction to external stimuli.

An ambulance does not always arrive immediately after a call, but in such a state every minute is important. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to try to provide self help to the victim. Help restore life processes may massage the heart of any kind or artificial respiration mouth to mouth. However, there is no need to rush with these methods. Quite often they cause serious harm to the victim. But they can also save a person's life. While the ambulance is on the way. It is important not to overdo it, especially when performing heart massage, as this can lead to complex fractures.

Technique of indirect heart massage and artificial respiration

Before starting an indirect heart massage and artificial respiration, it is necessary to position the patient as conveniently as possible and release oral cavity from vomit or excessive salivation. After that, you need to throw the person’s head back, while making sure that the front jaw is slightly extended. If the jaw is strongly compressed, it must be unclenched with any improvised objects, while not causing severe injury to the victim. Only then can the procedure of introducing air into the nose be carried out. It is best to perform artificial respiration through a handkerchief. It is necessary to take two deep breaths to the victim, while the nose or mouth must be well clamped. After inhaling, you need to press your hands on the middle of the person’s chest. Ten clicks will be enough. After that, the procedure must be repeated in the same order. The procedure for artificial respiration and chest compressions will be easier and more effective if it is carried out by two people at the same time. It's not easy to deal with this alone. One person presses on the sternum, the other inhales. Three to five pressures should be combined with one or two breaths.

It may be necessary to carry out such a procedure until an ambulance appears.

Fainting is a sudden temporary loss of consciousness, usually accompanied by a fall.

Doctors often refer to fainting as syncope to distinguish it from other conditions associated with a temporary loss of consciousness, such as a seizure or concussion.

Fainting is very common, up to 40% of people have fainted at least once in their lives. The first fainting usually occurs before the age of 40. If the first episode of loss of consciousness occurred after age 40, this may indicate severe chronic illness. The most common neurogenic syncope is more common in adolescence in girls.

The immediate cause of syncope is a disruption in the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Its functions are temporarily impaired, and the person loses consciousness. This usually happens in a stuffy room, on an empty stomach, with fright, strong emotional shock, and in some people - at the sight of blood or a sudden change in body position. A person can faint from coughing, sneezing, and even while emptying the bladder.

First aid for fainting should be to prevent a person from falling, to protect him from injury. If someone becomes ill, support him and carefully lay him down, raising his legs up, or sit him down. Get fresh air in by opening the windows and unbuttoning the collar of your clothes. Try not to panic to avoid large cluster people, crush and stuffiness. With fainting, consciousness usually returns within a few seconds, less often - 1-2 minutes, but some types of fainting require emergency medical attention.

If the person does not regain consciousness within 2 minutes, an ambulance should be called by calling 03 co. landline phone, 112 or 911 - from a mobile phone.

Syncope symptoms

Fainting is usually preceded by sudden weakness and dizziness, and then there is a brief loss of consciousness, usually for a few seconds. This can happen when a person is sitting, standing, or standing up too quickly.

Sometimes loss of consciousness may be preceded by others short-term symptoms:

yawn;
sudden clammy sweat;
nausea;
frequent deep breathing;
disorientation in space and time;
clouding in the eyes or the appearance of spots before the eyes;
tinnitus.

After the fall, the head and heart are at the same level, so the blood reaches the brain more easily. Consciousness should return in about 20 seconds, less often fainting lasts for 1-2 minutes. More prolonged absence consciousness - alarm signal. In this case, you need to call an ambulance.

After fainting, weakness and confusion may occur within 20 to 30 minutes. The person may also feel tired, sleepy, nauseous, and have stomach discomfort, as well as not remembering what happened just before the fall.

Fainting or stroke?

Loss of consciousness can occur with a stroke - a violation of cerebral circulation. A stroke, unlike fainting, is always a medical emergency and is life threatening. A stroke can be suspected if a person does not wake up for more than 2 minutes or if, after fainting, the victim has the following symptoms:

the face is skewed to one side, the person cannot smile, his lip has drooped or the eyelid has dropped;
a person cannot raise one or both hands and hold them in vertical position due to weakness or numbness;
speech becomes slurred.

Causes of fainting (loss of consciousness)

Loss of consciousness in syncope is associated with a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain. The causes of this type of circulatory disorder are very diverse.

Violation of the nervous system as a cause of loss of consciousness

Most often, loss of consciousness is associated with a temporary malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This type of fainting is called neurogenic or vegetative syncope.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the unconscious functions of the body, including the heartbeat and the regulation of blood pressure. Various external stimuli, such as fear, the sight of blood, heat, pain, and others, can temporarily disrupt the autonomic nervous system, which leads to a drop in blood pressure and fainting.

The work of the autonomic nervous system is also associated with a slowdown in the work of the heart, which leads to a short-term decrease in blood pressure and disruption of the blood supply to the brain. This is called vasovagal syncope.

Sometimes overload of the autonomic nervous system occurs during coughing, sneezing or laughing, and loss of consciousness occurs. Such fainting is called situational.

In addition, fainting may be associated with prolonged standing in an upright position. Usually, when a person is standing or sitting, due to attraction, some of the blood drains down and accumulates in the arms and legs. To maintain normal blood circulation, the heart begins to work a little harder, blood vessels narrow slightly, maintaining sufficient blood pressure in the body.

In some people, this mechanism is disrupted, the blood supply to the heart and brain is temporarily interrupted. In response, the heart begins to beat too fast, and the body produces norepinephrine, the stress hormone. This is called postural tachycardia and can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, and fainting.

carotid sinus syndrome

The carotid sinus is a symmetrical region on the lateral surface of the middle part of the neck. This is an important area, rich in sensitive cells - receptors, which is necessary to maintain normal blood pressure, heart function and gas composition blood. In some people, syncope (fainting) can occur when accidental mechanical impact on the carotid sinus is called carotid sinus syndrome.

Orthostatic hypotension is a cause of syncope in the elderly

The second most common cause of fainting can be a drop in blood pressure when a person gets up abruptly - orthostatic hypotension. This phenomenon is more common in older people, especially after 65 years of age.

A sharp change in body position from horizontal to vertical leads to the outflow of blood into the lower parts of the body under the influence of gravity, due to which blood pressure V central vessels falls. Normally, the nervous system regulates this by increasing the heart rate, constricting the blood vessels, and thus stabilizing the pressure.

At orthostatic hypotension regulation mechanism is broken. That's why quick recovery there is no pressure, and for some period the blood circulation in the brain is disturbed. This is enough for the development of fainting.

Possible causes of orthostatic hypotension:

dehydration - a condition in which the fluid content in the body decreases and blood pressure drops, making it harder for the heart to stabilize it, which increases the risk of fainting;
diabetes mellitus - accompanied by frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration, in addition, high level blood sugar damages the nerves responsible for regulating blood pressure;
medications- any drugs for hypertension, as well as any antidepressants, can cause orthostatic hypotension;
neurological diseases- diseases affecting nervous system, (for example, Parkinson's disease) can cause orthostatic hypotension.

Heart disease - the cause of cardiac syncope

Heart disease can also disrupt the blood supply to the brain and lead to temporary loss of consciousness. Such fainting is called cardiac. Its risk increases with age. Other risk factors:

pain in the heart cell (angina pectoris);
suffered a heart attack;
pathology of the structure of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy);
violations on the electrocardiogram (ECG);
recurring sudden fainting without warning symptoms.

If you suspect that fainting is caused by heart disease, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Reflex anoxic convulsions

Reflex anoxic seizures are a type of syncope that develops after a brief cardiac arrest due to overload of the vagus nerve. It is one of the 12 cranial nerves that runs down from the head to the neck, chest and abdominal cavity. Reflex anoxic seizures are more common in young children, especially when the child is upset.

Diagnosis of causes of fainting

Most often, fainting is not dangerous and does not require treatment. But in some cases, after fainting, you should consult a doctor to find out if the loss of consciousness was caused by any disease. See a neurologist if:

fainting occurred for the first time;
you regularly lose consciousness;
injury due to loss of consciousness;
you have diabetes or heart disease (such as angina pectoris);
fainting occurred during pregnancy;
before fainting, you felt pain in chest, irregular rapid or strong heartbeat;
during the blackout of consciousness, urination or defecation involuntarily occurred;
you were unconscious for several minutes.

During the diagnosis, the doctor will ask about the circumstances of the syncope and recently previous diseases, and can also measure blood pressure and listen to the heartbeat with a stethoscope. In addition, additional studies will be required to diagnose the causes of loss of consciousness.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is prescribed for suspicion that fainting was caused by heart disease. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records heart rhythms and the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes (small sticky discs) are attached to the arms, legs and chest, which are connected to the ECG machine with wires. Each heartbeat creates an electrical signal. The ECG marks these signals on paper, recording any abnormalities. The procedure is painless and takes about five minutes.

Carotid sinus massage carried out by a doctor in order to exclude carotid sinus syndrome as the cause of fainting. If the massage causes dizziness, heart rhythm disturbances, or other symptoms, the test is considered positive.

Blood tests allow to exclude diseases such as diabetes mellitus and anemia (anemia).

Blood pressure measurement in the supine and standing positions to detect orthostatic hypotension. In orthostatic hypotension, blood pressure drops sharply when a person stands up. If the test results reveal a medical condition, such as heart disease or orthostatic hypotension, your doctor may prescribe treatment.

First aid for fainting

There are certain precautions to be taken when someone is near fainting. It is necessary to lay the person in such a way as to increase blood flow to the head. To do this, just put something under your legs, bend them at the knees or lift them up. If there is nowhere to lie down, you need to sit down and lower your head between your knees. Such actions, as a rule, help to avoid fainting.

If a person does not regain consciousness within 1-2 minutes, you need to do the following:

put it on its side, resting on one leg and one arm;
tilt your head back and raise your chin to open
Airways;
continuously monitor breathing and pulse.

Then you should call an ambulance by calling 03 from a landline, 112 or 911 from a mobile phone and stay with the person until the doctors arrive.

Treatment after fainting

Most syncope does not require treatment, but it is important that your doctor rule out possible diseases that could cause loss of consciousness. If the latter are found during the examination, you will need treatment. For example, if diabetes is detected through diet, exercise and medications can lower blood sugar levels. Treatment cardiovascular diseases associated with fluctuations in blood pressure, rhythm disturbance or atherosclerosis also minimizes the likelihood of recurrent syncope.

If the syncope is neurogenic in nature or is situational, then you need to avoid those causes that usually lead to loss of consciousness: stuffy and hot rooms, excitement, fear. Try to spend less time standing on your feet. If you faint at the sight of blood or medical manipulations, tell the doctor or nurse about this, then the procedure will be carried out in the supine position. When it is difficult to determine which situations are causing you to pass out, your doctor may recommend keeping a symptom diary to record all the circumstances of your fainting.

To prevent syncope caused by carotid sinus syndrome, pressure on the neck area should be avoided - for example, avoid wearing shirts with high, tight collars. Sometimes a pacemaker is placed under the skin to treat carotid sinus syndrome - a small electronic device to help maintain a regular heart rate.

To avoid orthostatic hypotension, try not to abruptly change the position of the body. Before getting out of bed, sit down, stretch, take a few calm deep breaths. In summer, water consumption should be increased. The doctor may also recommend fractional nutrition and small portions and increased salt intake. Some medications can lower blood pressure, but you should stop taking prescribed medications only with your doctor's permission.

To stop the pressure drop and prevent fainting, there are special movements:

crossing legs;
muscle tension in the lower body;
clenching the hands into fists;
arm muscle tension.

You need to learn how to properly perform these movements. In the future, these movements can be performed, noticing the symptoms of impending fainting, such as dizziness.

Sometimes drugs are used to treat fainting. However drug therapy must be prescribed by a doctor.

In addition, syncope can create dangerous situation at work. For example, when handling heavy machinery or dangerous mechanisms, when working at height, etc. Issues of working capacity are resolved in each case with the attending physician after the completion of the diagnosis.

Which doctor should I contact after fainting?

With the help of the NaPopravku service, you can find a good neurologist who will diagnose possible causes fainting and suggest treatment if necessary.

If your blackouts are accompanied by other symptoms not covered in this article, use the Who Treats This section to help you choose the right specialist.

Thank you

This article focuses on a condition that occurs in about thirty percent of healthy people at least once during their entire lives. This - loss of consciousness. Loss of consciousness is a condition during which a person lies motionless, does not respond to questions and does not perceive what is happening .. site) will help you learn from this article.

Loss of consciousness is mild form acute cerebrovascular insufficiency. It is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. Loss of consciousness occurs when nervous activity. This violation is accompanied by a cessation or a significant decrease in the body's response to external irritation and to a person's perception of the sensations of his own body.

What are the causes of loss of consciousness?

You know, there are quite a few of them. However, they are all connected common feature- damage to the brain.

Brain damage can result from direct exposure. It can be a head injury, hemorrhage, electrical injury, poisoning. It is quite possible to damage the brain and with an indirect effect on it. It can be bleeding, fainting, shock, heart disease. Very often people lose consciousness when they are exposed to heat or cold for a long time. For example, when heat stroke or freezing. Loss of consciousness may also occur if not enough oxygen in human blood. Most often this happens with suffocation or poisoning. Metabolic disorders in fever or diabetes can also cause loss of consciousness.

signs

Loss of consciousness does not occur suddenly. Most often, the human body gives the first signs in the form of dizziness, lightheadedness, ringing in the ears, severe weakness, yawning, darkening in the eyes, cold sweat, nausea, as well as a feeling of emptiness in the head area. The person may also experience numbness in the limbs. It is possible to increase the activity of the intestines.

The person begins to turn pale, his pulse weakens, blood pressure decreases. The eyes first wander, then close, there is a loss of consciousness, which lasts for ten seconds. At this point, muscle tone weakens and the person falls. After that, the person gradually begins to regain consciousness, his eyes open, breathing and heart activity stabilize. After a person comes to his senses, he remains disturbed for some period of time. He is tormented headache, weakness and malaise.

Types of loss of consciousness

There are four types of loss of consciousness. The first type is a sudden and short-term loss of consciousness. The second type refers to a sudden and prolonged loss of consciousness. The third kind is a prolonged loss of consciousness with a gradual onset, and finally the fourth kind is a loss of consciousness with an unknown onset and duration. The concept of "sudden and short-term" refers to the duration of loss of consciousness. It can last from a few seconds to several minutes. The term "gradual and prolonged" suggests hours or days.

Treatment

As for the treatment given state, then it implies the treatment of the underlying disease and the relief of the loss of consciousness itself. At the moment of loss of consciousness, a person needs to ensure maximum blood flow to the brain - lay the patient on his back and slightly lift his legs, turn his head to the side to prevent the tongue from sinking. Moreover, a person is also offered special medications intended for stimulation. vascular tone and an increase in blood pressure.
Losing consciousness is enough dangerous state. Warn his appearance and always be conscious! Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

Reviews

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

Since the 5th grade, there has been periodic loss of consciousness. it could be once a year. maybe two or three times. It mainly happens in the morning while lying in bed and can be repeated several times in a row. I was examined by specialists, luminaries and no one can determine anything. They say it should be done during an attack. And how can this be done? After all, this can happen both at home and on the street. But amazing. what I feel. that now I will fall: sick, dizzy. The attack really lasts a couple of seconds. Before, during an attack, I was all wet. and then the vomiting started. It is characteristic that during an attack I always lie down on my stomach and my head is turned to the right, otherwise I cannot lie down. Thank you for reading my sad post. I don't know who can help me.