Why do women faint. How to help a person who has lost consciousness? How does fainting occur?

In the middle of the street in broad daylight - it's just awful. It is even more dangerous to lose consciousness while driving a car or a bus. By the way, no one is immune from this. Why does sudden loss of consciousness happen?
.site) will tell you in this article.

So, what exactly is loss of consciousness?

What are the causes of sudden loss of consciousness?

Loss of consciousness is characteristic of atherosclerosis. In such cases, the lumen of the vessels is narrowed, which interferes with the normal blood supply to the brain or myocardium.
If a person has suffered a head injury, then he can also lose consciousness. When falling or bruising, the brain shakes in a hard cranium, which can cause loss of consciousness for several seconds.

Also, loss of consciousness can accompany diseases that pass with a strong increase in body temperature. When overheated in the sun, loss of consciousness is not uncommon. If you are a diabetic and your blood sugar drops suddenly, you may also pass out. With cerebral edema, loss of consciousness is not uncommon. With kidney failure, severe respiratory diseases, loss of consciousness can also occur. And a sudden loss of consciousness can signal the presence of a neoplasm in the brain.

What happens in the body when you lose consciousness?

How does the loss of consciousness proceed?

If you notice a tendency to faint, be sure to take a blood test. Perhaps this is due to a violation of blood sugar levels and the onset of diabetes.

Usually, loss of consciousness should not be treated with any special means. The main thing is to find the cause of the loss of consciousness and act on the cause. There is a type of loss of consciousness called vagovasal syncope. Such fainting occurs in people with a certain constitution. Lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise to normalize the blood supply to the main organs and the brain. Then you can not think about loss of consciousness at all.

Reviews

Eugene is normal, popularly called - the Armenian parish.
There is no need to make such abrupt transitions from a state of rest to an active state and immediately give a load to the body.

Hello, yesterday I watched anime (2-3 hours), lying in one position, practically without getting up, then I sharply gained weight and jumped on the horizontal bar (it is in our hall), it went dark in my eyes and I fell, I seem to have lost consciousness, tell me, please, with what it can be connected?

Hello! It happens to me too, sometimes I lose consciousness, and sometimes consciousness just turns off. Today there was a case: I went for bread, then I came to the store, stood in line, my turn comes up, the saleswoman asks me what I want to buy, and according to my father (who at that time went to the store where I was going to buy bread) I just shake my head aside and do not say anything, I woke up already in the apartment, then my father bought bread. But I have type 1 diabetes, but I didn’t have such a condition before, I also have rhinitis (runny nose), perhaps due to a lack of oxygen, as the nose is half-stuffed up, consciousness turned off, but blood sugar after 2 hours after what happened to me was 12 units. Once, too, after the treatment of bilateral serous sinusitis, I also lost consciousness, having joined the ducks in the barn, stood leaning against the fence, and apparently then I lost consciousness, because when I woke up I was lying and my mother supported me under my back and by the arm, in general my mother later told me that I fell just on the corner of the tile (the path to the aviary where the Indians sit during the day is covered with tiles and already in the aviary there was also a tile tile on the corner of which I fell and if it weren’t for my mother, I wouldn’t be writing this now, then I had high blood pressure for 2 weeks, and on the day when I lost consciousness, my heart rate was 160 to 99 and 99.

I am 27 years old and last night I lost consciousness for the first time in my life. I went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and the last thing I remember is how I stand and my plate. When I woke up, at first I didn’t even understand what had happened. Meanwhile, almost 30 minutes! I felt a strong headache and fatigue. I barely got to bed, I was very scared and didn’t even know what to think? When I passed out, I apparently fell on the sink and hit the towel holder, moved the table, strongly I scratched my neck, cheek and bruised my knee. But I didn’t feel anything at all, and the pain from the bruises came only when I came to my senses. A very strange feeling ... Here, I’m standing, my plate and everything is fine, and then suddenly I already on the floor in a puddle of water, and next to it lies a broken plate.

I am 30. 4 months She gave birth back. For the first time in my life, I didn’t lose consciousness, and I don’t even know if it was, I went to the mirror, I look at myself, it slowly gets dark in my eyes, and so slowly I lower myself, I feel everything, but the body remains sluggish and literally in a few seconds I get up, and feeling like nothing happened! What could it be?

I have never had fainting with loss of consciousness, but yesterday it happened for the first time in my whole life i.e. for fifty nine years. This has never happened before, but then suddenly, at first I threw in sweat, sweat began to come out profusely. At that time I was riding in a bus and a cool breeze blew me, but I was hot, at first nausea set in, then it darkened in my eyes and I woke up when the young guys picked me up and put me on my feet. I don't know what it could be. And on this day, we announced the orange level, and I worked on the field for about four hours, harrowed potatoes. It was during the day from 12-00 to 16-00 and the fainting spell happened at 21-55, which is why I remember this time, because it takes only seven minutes to walk from the bus stop to the house. I would like to know why this happened to me.

I lost consciousness 3 times in my life, I have a manic-depressive psychosis. I also smoke a lot, I don’t drink, but I smoke all the time, and when I light the next cigarette, from a prolonged cough, I fell into a pre-fainting state of consciousness, for a moment, but I kept on legs. But the last time, I was sitting on a bench smoking, and I also coughed, I thought right now it will also pass and everything will be fine, I didn’t pass my face on osvalt, when I came to myself, my face is all in the cravi, the new suit is all greasy, now I’m afraid on the bench go out and quit smoking, the problem of willpower is not enough.

I’m 16 years old ... I didn’t find an answer ... today I lost consciousness in my room) I just got up from the table, raised my head up ... and woke up on the floor ... I don’t remember anything what happened, but the situation I was scared in the room, because there was a lamp, books and a toy lying next to me ... apparently I tried to grab onto something, but I couldn’t stay on my feet .. I rarely lose consciousness ... but clouding in the eyes appears quite like this and often...

Good afternoon! Today, September 16, 2013, I also had a loss of consciousness in the morning, when I was driving to work in the Monino-Moscow train between Moscow-3 and Moscow-Yaroslavskaya. At first it became bad, it started to torment a little, then there was nothing to breathe, then it blocked my ears, it darkened in my eyes and I only remember that my legs gave way and I began to sink to the floor. And Toko woke up on the platform - it turns out that some person picked me up. Thanks to the Man that helped, did not pass by. And so already 3 times in my life I lost consciousness along with an attack of food allergies, but so far I have not found the cause. This time there were no signs of allergy at all.

Didn't find an answer. how quickly the heat appeared at the end of April and the beginning of May .. I always get up very early if I got up early or just didn’t eat or go out into the street I feel bad .. what is it? could it be that i'm pregnant?

I didn’t get an answer, I fainted only 3 times in my life, I’m 25 years old, and 2 of them in the last three days at the same time of the day for no apparent reason. What’s wrong with me? There are no diseases, analysis did blood, everything is OK! but it scares me with its unpredictability

I can’t stand this state, I feel like a weak-willed vegetable. This usually happens to me when I donate blood for tests. But recently I lost consciousness right on the bus, and the feeling was so strange, my ears buzzed, blue and green spots swam before my eyes, but I was fully aware that I was going on the bus and was afraid to fall on the dirty floor, I managed to stay on my feet. First I got hot, then cold, it's good that it happened 2 minutes before going out, it got better in the fresh air, although I would not say that it was stuffy on the bus.

I didn’t find an answer either ... I have short-term loss of consciousness, but I stay on my feet. The emptiness suddenly sets in and the picture moves. but then everything falls into place. I know this is not good.

I didn’t find the answer ... I had unexpected diarrhea 3-4 times, often in the middle of the night, without consequences in the morning ... I barely have time to crawl with my last strength and then often - I apologize, I faint from the toilet ... I can’t call for help because my tongue goes numb .. I’m afraid of such unexpected attacks, because I don’t know their cause and, accordingly, I can’t protect myself from them ...

I do not fully agree with the last statement. I play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, don't smoke, hardly drink, but over the past 3 years I have had blackouts 8 times...

She lost consciousness only once in her life. I was then six years old. My grandmother and I went to the mountains and lived in a private sector on the second floor. The stairs were wooden and very steep. Once, from this ladder, from the very top, I made a flight, the result of which was a loss of consciousness. Then it turned out that I had a slight concussion. They didn't even go to the hospital. She lay in bed for three days and already drove with the master's children around the village. But the feeling of loss of consciousness remained in the memory. It's strange.

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 that involve 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 the age of 40, this may indicate a 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 create panic in order to avoid large crowds, 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 a person does not regain consciousness within 2 minutes, an ambulance should be called by calling 03 from a 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 other 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. A longer absence of consciousness is an 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, drowsy, 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. You can suspect a stroke 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 arms and keep them upright 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 functioning of 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, the 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 blood gases. In some people, syncope (fainting) can occur with accidental mechanical stress on the carotid sinus - this 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.

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

In orthostatic hypotension, the regulation mechanism is disturbed. Therefore, there is no rapid recovery of 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 blood sugar levels damage the nerves responsible for regulating blood pressure;
• drugs - any drugs for hypertension, as well as any antidepressants, can cause orthostatic hypotension;
• neurological diseases - diseases that affect the 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 abdomen. 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 you fainted, you had chest pain, an irregular, fast 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 fainting and recent illnesses, and may 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 the person does not regain consciousness within 1-2 minutes, 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 fainting spells do not require treatment, but it is important that your doctor rule out possible medical conditions that may have caused the loss of consciousness. If the latter are found during the examination, you will need treatment. For example, if diabetes is diagnosed, diet, exercise, and medication can help lower blood sugar levels. Treatment of cardiovascular diseases associated with fluctuations in blood pressure, arrhythmias, or atherosclerosis also minimizes the likelihood of recurrent syncope.

If the syncope is neurogenic or situational, then you need to avoid the 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 your doctor or nurse about it, then the procedure will be carried out in a lying 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, to treat carotid sinus syndrome, a pacemaker, a small electronic device, is placed under the skin to help maintain a regular heart rhythm.

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. Your doctor may also recommend smaller, smaller meals 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 a hazardous situation in the workplace. For example, when handling heavy equipment or dangerous mechanisms, when working at height, etc. Issues of working capacity are resolved in each case with the attending physician after the diagnosis is completed.

Which doctor should I contact after fainting?

You can find a good neurologist with the help of the OnCorrection service, who will diagnose the possible causes of fainting and offer 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.

Fainting is not a separate disease and not a diagnosis, it is a short-term loss of consciousness due to an acute decrease in the blood supply to the brain, accompanied by a drop in cardiovascular activity.

Syncope or syncope, as it is called, occurs suddenly and usually does not last long - a few seconds. Absolutely healthy people are not immune from fainting, that is, it should not be rushed to be interpreted as a sign of a serious illness, it is better to try to understand the classification and causes.

Syncope classification

True syncope includes bouts of short-term loss of consciousness, which can be divided into the following types:

• Neurocardiogenic (neurotransmitter) form includes several clinical syndromes, therefore it is considered a collective term. The formation of neurotransmitter syncope is based on the reflex effect of the autonomic nervous system on vascular tone and heart rate, provoked by factors unfavorable for this organism (ambient temperature, psycho-emotional stress, fear, type of blood). Fainting in children (in the absence of any significant pathological changes in the heart and blood vessels) or in adolescents during the period of hormonal adjustment often has a neurocardiogenic origin. This type of syncope also includes vasovagal and reflex reactions that can occur when coughing, urinating, swallowing, physical activity, and other circumstances not related to cardiac pathology.
• or fainting develops due to a slowdown in blood flow in the brain with a sharp transition of the body from a horizontal to a vertical position.
• Arrhythmogenic syncope. This option is the most dangerous. It is due to the formation of morphological changes in the heart and blood vessels.
• Loss of consciousness, which is based on(change in the vessels of the brain,).

Meanwhile, some states, called fainting, are not classified as syncope, although outwardly they are very similar. These include:

1. Loss of consciousness associated with metabolic disorders (hypoglycemia - a drop in blood glucose, oxygen starvation, hyperventilation with a decrease in carbon dioxide concentration).
2. Epilepsy attack.

Exists a group of disorders resembling fainting, but occurring without loss of consciousness:

• Short-term relaxation of the muscles (cataplexy), as a result of which a person cannot maintain balance and falls;
• Sudden onset of motor coordination disorder - acute ataxia;
• Syncopal states of a psychogenic nature;
• TIA, caused by a violation of blood circulation in the carotid pool, accompanied by a loss of the ability to move.

The most frequent case

A significant proportion of all syncope belongs to neurocardiogenic forms. Loss of consciousness provoked by ordinary domestic circumstances (transport, stuffy room, stress) or medical procedures (various scopies, venipuncture, sometimes just visiting rooms resembling operating rooms), as a rule, is not based on the development of changes in the heart and blood vessels. Even blood pressure, which decreases at the time of fainting, is at a normal level outside the attack. Therefore, all responsibility for the development of an attack lies with the autonomic nervous system, namely, its departments - sympathetic and parasympathetic, which for some reason stop working in concert.

This kind of fainting in children and adolescents causes a lot of anxiety on the part of parents, who cannot be reassured only by the fact that this condition is not the result of a serious pathology. Repetitive fainting accompanied by injury, which reduces the quality of life and can be dangerous in general.

Why does consciousness disappear?

To a person who is far from medicine, classification, in general, does not play any role. Most people in an attack with loss of consciousness, pallor of the skin and a fall see fainting, but they cannot be blamed for a mistake. The main thing is to rush to help, and what kind of loss of consciousness - the doctors will figure it out, therefore, we will not particularly convince readers.

However, based on the classification, but taking into account the fact that not everyone knows its subtleties, we will try to determine the causes of fainting, which can be both banal and serious:

1. Heat- the concept is different for everyone, one person feels tolerably at 40 ° C, another 25 - 28 - already a disaster, especially in a closed, unventilated room. Perhaps, most often, such fainting occurs in crowded transport, where it is difficult to please everyone: someone is blowing, and someone is ill. In addition, there are often other provoking factors (pressure, smells).
2. Prolonged lack of food or water. Fans of rapid weight loss or people who are forced to starve for other reasons beyond their control know something about a hungry faint. Syncope can be caused by diarrhea, persistent vomiting, or fluid loss due to other conditions (frequent urination, increased sweating).
3. Abrupt transition from a horizontal body position(he got up - everything swam before his eyes).
4. Sense of anxiety, accompanied by increased respiration.
5. Pregnancy (redistribution of blood flow). Fainting during pregnancy is a frequent phenomenon, moreover, sometimes loss of consciousness is one of the first signs of an interesting position for a woman. Emotional instability characteristic of pregnancy against the background of hormonal changes, heat on the street and in the house, fear of gaining extra pounds (hunger) provoke a decrease in blood pressure in a woman, which leads to loss of consciousness.
6. Pain, shock, food poisoning.
7. Jar of Hearts(why, before telling some terrible news, the person to whom it is intended will be asked to sit down first).
8. Rapid blood loss for example, donors lose consciousness during blood donation, not because some volume of precious fluid has left, but because it left the bloodstream too quickly and the body did not have time to turn on the defense mechanism.
9. Type of wounds and blood. By the way, men faint for blood more often than women, it turns out that the beautiful half is somehow more accustomed to it.
10. Decrease in circulating blood volume(hypovolemia) with significant blood loss or due to the intake of diuretics and vasodilators.
11. lowering blood pressure, vascular crisis, the cause of which may be the uncoordinated work of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system, its failure to perform its tasks. Syncope is not uncommon in adolescents suffering or children in the pubertal period with a diagnosis. In general, for hypotensive people to faint is a common thing, so they themselves begin to avoid traveling in public transport, especially in summer, visiting steam rooms in the bathhouse and all sorts of other places with which they have unpleasant memories.
12. The fall(hypoglycemia) - by the way, not necessarily with an overdose of insulin in patients with diabetes mellitus. The "advanced" youth of our time knows that this drug can be used for other purposes (to increase height and weight, for example), which can be very dangerous (!).
13. or what is popularly called anemia.
14. Recurrent fainting spells in children may be an indication of serious illness, for example, syncopal conditions are often a sign of a heart rhythm disorder, which is quite difficult to recognize in a young child because, unlike in adults, cardiac output is more dependent on heart rate (HR) than stroke volume.
15. The act of swallowing in the pathology of the esophagus(reflex reaction caused by irritation of the vagus nerve).
16. Hypocapnia causing vasoconstriction which is a decrease in carbon dioxide (CO 2) due to increased oxygen consumption during frequent breathing, which is characteristic of a state of fear, panic, stress.
17. Urination and cough(by increasing intrathoracic pressure, reducing venous return and, accordingly, limiting cardiac output and lowering blood pressure).
18. Side effect of certain drugs or overdose of antihypertensive drugs.
19. Decreased blood supply to certain parts of the brain(), although rare, can cause fainting in elderly patients.
20. Serious cardiovascular disease(myocardial infarction, etc.).
21. Some endocrine diseases.
22. in the brain obstructing blood flow.

Thus, most often, changes in the circulatory system caused by a drop in blood pressure lead to loss of consciousness. The body simply does not have time to adapt in a short time: the pressure has decreased, the heart has not had time to increase the release of blood, the blood has not brought enough oxygen to the brain.

Video: causes of fainting - the program “Live great!”

Cause is the heart

Meanwhile, one should not relax too much if syncope becomes too frequent and the causes of fainting are not clear. Fainting in children, adolescents and adults is often the result of cardiovascular pathology., where not the last role belongs to a different kind ( and ):

• Associated with, high degree, (often in older people);
• Caused by the reception, β-blockers, improper functioning of the valve prosthesis;
• Due to drug intoxication (quinidine), electrolyte imbalance, lack of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Cardiac output can also be reduced by other factors that reduce cerebral blood flow, which are often present in combination: a drop in blood pressure, dilation of peripheral vessels, a decrease in the return of venous blood to the heart, hypovolemia, and vasoconstriction of the outflow tract.

Loss of consciousness in the "cores" during physical exertion is a rather serious indicator of trouble, since The cause of fainting in this case may be:

1. : stenosis of the tricuspid valve (TC) and pulmonary artery valve (LA);

Of course, such diseases listed are rarely the cause of fainting in children, they are mainly formed in the process of life, therefore they are a sad advantage of a respectable age.

What does fainting look like?

Fainting often accompanies. Hypoxia caused against the background does not particularly give time for reflection, although people for whom loss of consciousness is not something supernatural can anticipate the approach of an attack in advance and call this condition pre-syncope. Symptoms that indicate the approach of syncope and the faint itself are best described together, since the onset is felt by the person himself, and those around him see the faint. As a rule, having regained consciousness, a person feels normal, and only slight weakness reminds of loss of consciousness.

So, symptoms:

• “I feel bad” - this is how the patient defines his condition.
• Nausea sets in, an unpleasant sticky cold sweat breaks through.
• The whole body weakens, the legs give way.
• The skin turns pale.
• Ringing in the ears, flies flash before the eyes.
• Loss of consciousness: the face is grayish, blood pressure is lowered, the pulse is weak, usually rapid (tachycardia), although bradycardia is not excluded, the pupils are dilated, but they react to light, albeit with some delay.

In most cases, a person wakes up after a few seconds. With a longer attack (5 minutes or more), involuntary urination is also possible. Unknowing people can easily confuse such a faint with an attack of epilepsy.

Table: how to distinguish true syncope from hysteria or epilepsy

What to do?

Becoming an eyewitness of fainting, each person must know how to behave, although often the loss of consciousness does without any first aid, if the patient quickly came to his senses, did not get injured during the fall, and after syncope his health more or less returned to normal. First aid for fainting is reduced to the implementation of simple activities:

1. Lightly splash cold water on your face.
2. Lay the person in a horizontal position, put a roller or pillow under their feet so that they are above the head.
3. Unbutton the shirt collar, loosen the tie, provide fresh air.
4. Ammonia. If a faint happens - everyone runs after this remedy, but at the same time they sometimes forget that they need to be handled with care. Inhalation of its vapors can lead to reflex respiratory arrest, that is, one should not bring a cotton swab moistened with alcohol too close to the nose of the unconscious person.

Acute care for syncope is more related to its underlying cause(rhythm disturbance) or with consequences (bruises, cuts, traumatic brain injury). If, moreover, a person is in no hurry to return to consciousness, then one should be wary of other causes of fainting (drop in blood sugar, hysteria). By the way, with regard to hysteria, people who are prone to it are able to faint on purpose, the main thing is that there are spectators.

It is hardly worth presumptuously to find out the origin of a prolonged fainting, without having certain skills of the medical profession. The most reasonable would be to call an ambulance, which will provide emergency care and, if necessary, take the victim to the hospital.

Video: help with fainting - Dr. Komarovsky

How to fall into a frill on purpose / recognize an imitation

Some manage to cause an attack with the help of breathing (breathing often and deeply) or, squatting on their haunches for a while, rise sharply. But then it could be a real faint?! It is quite difficult to simulate an artificial fainting; in healthy people, it still does not work out well.

Syncope during hysteria can mislead those very spectators, but not the doctor: a person thinks in advance how to fall so as not to get hurt and this is noticeable, his skin remains normal (unless it is pre-smeared with whitewash?), And if (suddenly?) to convulsions, but they are not caused by involuntary muscle contractions. Bending and taking various pretentious postures, the patient only imitates a convulsive syndrome.

Finding a reason

The conversation with the doctor promises to be a long one...

At the beginning of the diagnostic process, the patient should tune in to a detailed conversation with the doctor. He will ask a lot of different questions, the detailed answer to which the patient himself or the parents know if it concerns a child:

1. At what age did the first fainting appear?
2. What circumstances preceded it?
3. How often do seizures occur, are they the same in nature?
4. What triggers usually lead to fainting (pain, heat, exercise, stress, hunger, cough, etc.)?
5. What does the patient do when “feeling sick” sets in (laying down, turning his head, drinking water, eating, trying to go out into the fresh air)?
6. What is the period before an attack?
7. Features of the nature of the pre-fainting state (ringing in the ears, darkening in the eyes, nausea, pain in the chest, head, stomach, heart beats faster or “freezes, stops, then knocks, then does not knock ...”, not enough air)?
8. The duration and clinic of the syncope itself, that is, what does fainting look like from the words of eyewitnesses (the position of the patient's body, skin color, the nature of the pulse and breathing, the level of blood pressure, the presence of convulsions, involuntary urination, tongue bite, pupil reaction)?
9. Condition after fainting, the patient's well-being (pulse, respiration, blood pressure, sleepiness, headache and dizziness, general weakness)?
10. How does the examined person feel outside of syncope?
11. What past or chronic illnesses does he notice in himself (or what did his parents tell)?
12. What pharmaceuticals did you have to use in the process of life?
13. Does the patient or his relatives indicate that paraepileptic phenomena took place in childhood (walking or talking in a dream, screaming at night, waking up from fear, etc.)?
14. Family history (similar seizures in relatives, vegetative-vascular dystonia, epilepsy, heart problems, etc.).

Obviously, what at first glance seems like a mere trifle can play a leading role in the formation of syncopal conditions, which is why the doctor pays such close attention to various trifles. By the way, the patient, going to the reception, must also delve into his life in order to help the doctor discover the cause of his fainting.

Inspection, consultations, equipment assistance

Examination of the patient, in addition to determining constitutional features, measuring (on both hands), listening to heart tones, involves the identification of pathological neurological reflexes, the study of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, which, of course, will not do without consulting a neurologist.

Laboratory diagnostics includes traditional blood and urine tests (general), a sugar curve, as well as a number of biochemical tests, depending on the proposed diagnosis. At the first stage of the search, the patient is required to make and use R-graphic methods, if necessary.

In case of suspicion of the arrhythmogenic nature of syncope, the main emphasis in diagnosis falls on the study of the heart:

• R-graphy of the heart and contrasting of the esophagus;
• bicycle ergometry;
• special methods for diagnosing cardiac pathology (in a hospital setting).

If the doctor thinks that syncope causes organic brain disease or the cause of fainting seems vague, the range of diagnostic measures is noticeably expanding:

1. R-graphy of the skull, Turkish saddle (location of the pituitary gland), cervical spine;
2. Consultation of an oculist (fields of vision, fundus);
3. (electroencephalogram), including monitor, if there is a suspicion of an attack of epileptic origin;
4. EchoES (echoencephaloscopy);
5. (vascular pathology);
6. CT, MRI (volumetric formations,).

Sometimes, even the listed methods do not fully answer the questions, so do not be surprised if the patient is asked to take a urine test for 17-ketosteroids or blood for hormones (thyroid, genital, adrenal glands), since it is sometimes difficult to look for the cause of fainting .

How to treat?

The tactics of treatment and prevention of syncopal conditions are built depending on the cause of fainting. And it's not always medication. For example, with vasovagal and orthostatic reactions the patient, first of all, is taught to avoid situations that provoke syncope. To do this, it is recommended to train vascular tone, carry out hardening procedures, avoid stuffy rooms, a sudden change in body position, men are advised to switch to sitting urination. Usually, certain points are negotiated with the attending physician, who takes into account the origin of the attacks.

Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure is treated with an increase in blood pressure. also depending on the reason for its decline. Most often, this cause is neurocirculatory dystonia, so drugs that affect the autonomic nervous system are used.

Particular attention should be paid to repeated syncope, which may be of arrhythmogenic nature. It should be borne in mind that it is they who increase the likelihood of sudden death, therefore, in such cases, arrhythmia and the diseases that cause it are most seriously treated.

It is impossible to say unequivocally about fainting states: they are harmless or dangerous. Until the cause is clarified, and the attacks now and then continue to disturb the patient, the prognosis can be very different (even extremely unfavorable), because it completely depends on the nature of this condition. How high the risk is will be determined by a thorough history and a comprehensive physical examination, which can be the first step towards forgetting forever about this unpleasant “surprise” that can deprive a person of consciousness at the most inopportune moment.

Hello dear readers. Today we have an interesting post, and I will tell you about a short-term loss of consciousness. This was written down from the words of Sergei Alexandrovich, a doctor who has worked as a chiropractor all his life. I have known him for over 10 years. Somehow I was twisted (I have an erased spinal disc, and it sometimes causes trouble), and my friends gave me the phone number of a good doctor. Since then, I have often visited him. And when I once again came to the doctor for prevention, namely, the future of medicine lies in prevention, then they started talking about “quick” dizziness and short-term loss of consciousness.

The fact is that I used to have this, and my brother also had it in his youth. So I decided to cover this topic in more detail.

Human consciousness is one of the greatest values ​​that it possesses. And this is not about social, political, or any other consciousness, but about a completely material, concrete - physiological, that is, the ability of the brain and central nervous system to adequately perceive and respond to the external environment, being in an active, waking state (phase) .
This is extremely important, as it allows the brain to work fully, and the person to remain complete, in every sense. But, sometimes, some people have to deal with a short-term (in some cases - for a few seconds) loss of consciousness.

Syncope, as this condition is also very often called, this is a sudden, but short-term, fainting, the cause of which is a decrease in the amount of oxygen supplied to the brain tissues due to a violation of blood flow or a decrease in its concentration (oxygen) in the blood.

Many have faced this. For some people, this process happens so quickly that they don’t even pay attention to it and don’t attach any importance to it, since everything lasts for a fraction of a second, on a purely physiological level, feeling only a slight, barely noticeable dizziness.

Meanwhile, a short-term loss of consciousness for a few seconds is very dangerous, because it is often accompanied by a violation of the sense of spatial orientation, balance and, as a result, a fall, or a violation of coordination of movements (if the body is in a horizontal position, or the person is just sitting) .

For example, if you cross the road, work at a machine tool, walk along a bridge, drive a car, and so on, then losing consciousness at this time, even for a very short time, is fraught with many negative consequences not only for you personally, but also for many people around.

For example, in the 19th century, girls often fainted because of fashion. Then the thin waist was fashionable, and the girls laced their corsets too tightly. As a result, constricted vessels. It has found a place even in painting.

Therefore, you should figure out what causes can provoke such conditions, what to do if this has already happened, which specialist is better to contact, and so on.

Brief loss of consciousness by fall

Fainting is a word used to describe loss of consciousness. But, it essentially means the same thing. Fainting lasts from a few seconds to several minutes, otherwise it makes sense to consider the patient's condition as a coma. With syncope, a longer loss of the ability of the brain to remain conscious is very rare. The most common types of fainting are:

• - vasovagal syncope (sharp vasodilation and slowing of the heart rate);
• - hyperventilation syncopation;
• - associated with hyperkinetic syndrome (GCS);
• - cough syncopation;
• - nicturic (occurs in men);
• - hypoglycemic (decrease in blood glucose);
• - orthostatic syncope (sudden transition from a horizontal to a vertical position)
• - traumatic (as a result of an injury, circulation is disturbed), and so on.

What is characteristic, in the overwhelming majority of cases, almost with every fainting, lipothymia is noted. This is a specific condition, also called "pre-fainting." It is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, darkening in the eyes (short-term clouding in the eyes and loss of consciousness are very closely related), dizziness, rapid breathing, impaired sense of balance and other symptoms.

If loss of consciousness is accompanied by a fall, then it is syncopation that should be considered among the first causes of such a pathology. The blood flow can be permanently disturbed, but when, suddenly, the volume of blood that is delivered to the brain decreases even more, there is a loss of consciousness (fainting) and, as a result, a fall.

For example, if a patient suffers from osteochondrosis, then the blood flow is usually disturbed. A person can practically not feel this, since he lives with it all the time and is already used to this state. But, as soon as the vessels are compressed even more, for example, with a sharp turn of the head, the volume of blood for the brain becomes catastrophically small, and syncope is an almost inevitable result of such a development of events.

Syncope can be triggered by a large number of factors. Consider the most common among them!

1. Syncope of a neurotransmitter character. Human blood pressure is regulated by the autonomic nervous system. With a sharp change in its activity (when it shows hyperactivity), bradycardia can be observed, less often - expansion of the lumen of blood vessels, including those leading to the brain tissues (which, as we know, controls our consciousness).

This can already serve as fertile ground for fainting. But, when these two states are observed at once (in a complex, simultaneously), then the loss of consciousness, accompanied, of course, by a fall, occurs very often.

2. Orthostatic hypotension. It is based on the following mechanism: when the body moves from a vertical to a horizontal position, the blood pressure in the body, and in particular in the brain, drops sharply by 20 millimeters of mercury or more. The load on the heart increases, as the blood, under the influence of the Earth's gravity, rushes to the chest from the head.

The heart muscle slows down for a very short period of time, which further aggravates the situation, reducing blood circulation against the backdrop of already extremely low pressure. The body of a healthy person adequately responds to such situations, and the pressure remains almost stable even with a very sharp change in body position.

But in a sick person, or in older people, everything happens exactly as described above. The situation can be complicated, or provoke it initially, by Parkinson's disease, diabetic neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, side effects of taking pharmaceuticals, amyloid neuropathy, alcohol abuse or smoking, and so on.

3. Arrhythmia of the heart muscle. It manifests itself in violation of the work of the heart: the deviation of the rhythm of its contractions from the natural, normal. It can suddenly beat too fast, then vice versa - too slowly. This disrupts the perfusion of brain tissue, causing loss of balance, sense of spatial orientation, falling, and so on.

Often lead to heart rhythm disturbances: sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia and other causes. is not a very common cause of syncope, but it makes sense to consider it as a possible one.

4. Syncope from cardiac, pulmonary or cardiopulmonary disorders. We are talking about acute conditions! Since the circulatory and respiratory systems are the main links in terms of oxygen saturation of the brain. When something goes wrong with them, he also suffers.

Among them: heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and others. Such conditions, as a rule, require immediate hospitalization and emergency qualified medical care.

5. Fainting due to a serious disturbance of blood circulation in the brain itself. The reasons are also varied: from past injuries to blockage of blood vessels, due to the presence of blood clots or cholesterol plaques in them.

Brief loss of consciousness for a few seconds causes

Among the causes of loss of consciousness for a few seconds is the main one, this is syncope (impaired oxygen supply to the brain). This is one of the main reasons.

But, cases of loss of consciousness are also possible for a longer period, from several seconds to several minutes. These include:

- generalized epileptic seizure (usually it lasts longer than 1 minute);

- intracerebral bleeding (hemorrhage);

- subarachnoid hemorrhage;

- thrombosis of the basilar artery;

- craniocerebral injuries of varying severity, as well as spinal injuries;

- metabolic disorders;

- exogenous intoxication;

Naturally, help, in each case, will be different, since specific actions, their algorithm, depend on the cause of fainting. But, there are general rules that can help a person who has lost consciousness as a matter of urgency. First of all, you should call an ambulance.

Is it possible to help a person who has fainted on his own, without having a special education and even elementary knowledge in providing emergency emergency care? This is a rhetorical question. Everything depends on the situation.

If, for example, you know that an ambulance is on its way, and the situation does not require urgent drastic measures, you should not do anything, just wait near the patient until specialists arrive.

If a person, for example, has lost consciousness and is in a place or in a position that in a particular situation threatens his life, or the lives of others, then measures must be taken, but very carefully, since he may have injuries to the musculoskeletal system or internal organs obtained during the fall.

Although, as a rule, when fainting, the body relaxes so much, becoming relatively plastic, that a person gets off with only minor bruises. How exactly can you help:

- move the person to a safe place;

- if he lies on his stomach - turn him over on his back;

- raise your legs up, very carefully, to improve cerebral circulation;

- sprinkle his face with fresh water;

- to provide him with an influx of fresh air.

But, once again: taking any radical action without understanding the situation is fraught with negative consequences. Therefore, in most cases, it is advisable to simply provide the patient with a shade (if it is a hot day), provide fresh air to him and sprinkle his face with water, waiting, after all, for the doctors.

If we talk about helping yourself, then this, a priori, is impossible until you regain consciousness. After that, you should call for help. If there was no one nearby, you need to very slowly, but without undue stress on the muscles of the limbs, get up and slowly proceed to the nearest place where you can sit down until you fully recover.

It should be in the shade and in the fresh air. Breathe slowly, but to the fullest. If possible, contact friends or relatives who can find you and help you get home. As soon as possible, especially if fainting is regular, try to contact a specialist - an experienced qualified physician.

Which doctor will help?

It often happens that the first doctor you have to go to is an emergency room worker. Further, if necessary (depending on the causes of fainting), the patient can be referred to a hospital, where he is treated by a general practitioner. Completely different specialists can be involved in the treatment process, depending on the situation: a surgeon, a neuropathologist, a psychiatrist, a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, an infectious disease specialist, and others.

If it turns out that the cause of fainting is a sharp emotional shock (for example, stunning news), which also often happens, or, for example, physical exhaustion of the body due to an infectious disease or heavy exertion, then, in such cases, hospitalization may not be required.

What to do to avoid short-term loss of consciousness

If you feel that you are about to faint (this is usually felt in advance), then you should immediately take a sitting or lying position, calling for help. No need to be nervous, it can aggravate the situation. Breathe evenly and deeply, drink a couple of sips of water.

In terms of recommendations for general strengthening of the body, we can advise: hardening, normalization of the daily routine, exclusion from your life, as far as possible, any stressful situations, giving up bad habits, maintaining an active lifestyle, and so on. Naturally, general strengthening measures should not go against possible contraindications. Be healthy!

At least once in a lifetime, every person has experienced a faint or pre-fainting state. In this case, for many, fainting becomes a cause of unrest and anxiety, and most often because such a reaction of the body is not always clear.

Fainting is a sudden loss of consciousness for a short time (from a few seconds to 5 minutes), which is caused by a decrease in blood pressure. The most common cause of fainting is acute circulatory failure, due to which the blood circulation to the brain is reduced and, as a result, to a lack of oxygen supply to the brain.

The insidiousness of fainting is that it always happens suddenly, and if you think that you are young and relatively healthy, so losing consciousness does not threaten you, then you are greatly mistaken. Fainting can happen at any age, in both women and men. It can be in quite healthy people, for example, with a sharp change in body position from horizontal to vertical, with a strong emotional outburst, in a stuffy space, and for many other reasons.

The picture of fainting can be described as dizziness, darkening of the eyes and tinnitus, an attack of dizziness, pallor, nausea, weakness in the legs, cold sweat. In most cases, all these signs are not dangerous and pass quickly. A hot day, overeating, severe stress can provoke fainting - all this is enough for blood pressure to drop. A sharp decrease in pressure, even for a few minutes, disrupts blood flow in the brain, causing the patient to lose consciousness.

Most often, women become victims of fainting, as their blood pressure is more prone to jumps, and the nervous system is more vulnerable.

Causes of fainting

The causes of fainting are quite diverse: from cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy, blood loss, overheating to banal fright or "hungry" fainting in women who abuse the diet. Doctors still have not been able to fully figure out why, under some circumstances, a person's blood pressure drops sharply and he loses consciousness. The true cause of fainting can be established only in half of the patients.

Vasodepressor syncope is the most common type of syncope in adolescence and adolescence. This condition can often be provoked by emotional reactions (fear, the sight of blood) or being in a stuffy room.

Situational syncope can occur under certain circumstances. There are syncope associated with defecation, where straining plays an important role, which causes an increase in intrathoracic pressure and a decrease in venous return. A similar mechanism also works with cough syncope, which occurs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

One of the common causes of syncope in older men is hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus if they suffer from arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries. Such fainting may be caused by wearing a tight collar or turning the head abruptly. The mechanism of syncope is associated with the activation of the vagus nerve.

The most common cause of fainting (25%) is heart disease. In addition, this is the most dangerous variant of fainting, which should be paid attention first of all. Quite often, fainting occurs in the elderly due to a violation of the heart rhythm. And if other types of syncope occur, as a rule, in an upright position, then such a cardiogenic syncope can also happen with a recumbent person. The danger of such a syncope is that it occurs very suddenly, in contrast to vasodepressor syncope, when a strong heartbeat precedes the pathological condition. A fall can even cause injury.

First aid for loss of consciousness

As a rule, fainting passes very quickly by itself, as soon as the patient takes a horizontal position and the blood is evenly distributed throughout the body.

The first thing to do for a fainted person is to provide sufficient access to fresh air and lay him in a horizontal position.

To make the patient come to his senses faster, you can splash cold water in his face or hold a cotton swab with ammonia under his nose. When a person comes to his senses, you can offer him strong tea or coffee, as well as a piece of dark chocolate to raise blood pressure.