When a person loses consciousness. From what they faint - the causes of a sudden loss of consciousness

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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 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, 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. 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 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 into 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 body's fluid content is reduced 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 convulsions 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, arrhythmia, 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?

With the help of the On the Correction service, you can, which 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.

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Copyright notice: “Department of Health original content 2019”

All materials on the site have been checked by doctors. However, even the most reliable article does not allow taking into account all the features of the disease in a particular person. Therefore, the information posted on our website cannot replace a visit to the doctor, but only complements it. Articles are prepared for informational purposes and are advisory in nature.

Update: November 2019

Fainting is an unconscious state that occurs as a result of a sharp oxygen starvation of the brain and is accompanied by inhibition of reflexes and vegetative-vascular disorders. This is a momentary loss of consciousness.

For the first time, fainting was described by the ancient doctor Areteus. The Greek name for fainting (syncope, i.e. felling) from the shores of Cappadocia (modern Turkey) gradually reached New Orleans, where it merged into the jazz rhythms of Negro orchestras.

Causes of loss of consciousness

The cerebral cortex is extremely sensitive to lack of oxygen. It is the starvation of the cortex that becomes the main cause of fainting. The depth and duration of fainting depends on the severity and duration of oxygen deficiency. Such starvation can develop through several mechanisms:

cerebral ischemia

This is insufficient blood flow through the arteries due to:

• embolism, thrombosis, spasm or narrowing of the lumen of the vessels supplying the brain with atherosclerotic plaques
• insufficient cardiac output
• or venous congestion.

Metabolic disorders

• by type) during fasting
• insulin overdose
• violations of glucose utilization against the background of fermentopathy
• there may also be protein metabolism disorders with the accumulation of acetone-like ketone substances that poison brain cells
• various poisonings can also be attributed here (see,)

Syncope classification

Depending on the main conditions of occurrence, all fainting is divided into three large groups.

• Reflex develop against the background of pain, severe fear, emotional stress, after coughing, sneezing, urination, swallowing, defecation, against the background of pain in the internal organs, during physical exertion.
• syncope can be with diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, taking antihypertensive drugs, Parkinson's disease, a decrease in circulating blood volume, blood retention in the veins.
• Cardiogenic associated with diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Syncope symptoms

The loss of consciousness is immediately preceded by a period of precursors:

• nausea, stupidity
• sour taste in the mouth
• , flashing flies before the eyes, darkness in the eyes
• pale skin and mucous membranes

• During the period of fainting, the muscles are relaxed, the body is motionless.
• The pupils are dilated and do not react to light, the pulse is rare and superficial, breathing is slowed down, blood pressure is reduced.
• During a deep syncope, involuntary urination and muscle cramps may develop.

Fainting in healthy people

A perfectly healthy person under certain circumstances can bring himself to fainting.

Starvation

With strict diets, starvation, the brain loses glucose and starts the metabolic pathway of starvation of the cortex. If you start to work intensively on an empty stomach, it is quite possible to get a hungry faint.

Abuse of sweet and simple carbohydrates

If you eat only sweets or tea with honey, then the pancreas releases a portion of insulin into the blood to receive carbohydrates. Since the carbohydrate is simple, it is quickly absorbed and its concentration in the blood is quite large immediately after eating. A portion of insulin will be adequate to this level of sugar in the blood. But then, when all the simple sugar is utilized, the insulin in the blood will still work and, in the absence of sugar, will decompose blood proteins. As a result, ketone bodies will enter the bloodstream, which will work like acetone, causing metabolic disturbances in the cortex and causing fainting.

Injuries

With injuries, you can lose consciousness both from severe pain and against the background of bleeding. Both conditions reflexively cause the centralization of blood circulation with the accumulation of the main mass of blood in the vessels of the abdominal cavity and the impoverishment of cerebral blood flow.

Stuffy room, tight belt or collar

If you stand in clothes with a tight collar and belt for a long time in a stuffy room or transport, you can faint.

fright

With a strong fright, people with a mobile autonomic nervous system may faint. A similar thing can be observed in hysterics, who literally turn off the cortex by the power of thought and imagination.

Other reasons

• If you dive into cold water in the heat, you can cause a spasm of the neck vessels and lose consciousness.
• When a person climbs mountains or high altitudes, the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood rises. Oxygen is less utilized by cells. Oxygen starvation may occur.
• If you soar in the bath for a long time and concentratedly, you can lose consciousness. A similar condition can be earned with any other heat stroke, for example, solar.
• If you get black from inhaling smoke or smoking a lot of cigarettes, you can get metabolic and hypoxic disorders in the cells of the cerebral cortex.
• When motion sickness, you can also lose consciousness.
• The second stage of alcohol intoxication may include not only sleep, but also fainting. Loss of consciousness after alcohol poisoning is more typical.
• More rare causes are playing wind instruments or weightlifting.

Fainting in pregnant women

A pregnant woman should not normally faint. Although in an interesting position, multiple prerequisites are created for the deterioration of cerebral blood flow. The uterus, stretched by the fetus, strongly presses not only on the internal organs, provoking venous congestion, but also on the inferior vena cava, worsening the venous return to the heart and somewhat reducing the portions of blood pushed out by the heart to the brain. Therefore, with a grown belly is not recommended:

• lean forward and down
• wear tight clothes or underwear
• squeezing the neck with collars or scarves
• sleep on your back.

Immediately after childbirth, the compression causes of fainting disappear.

In second place in the frequency of fainting causes in pregnant women are anemia (see). During gestation, iron is excessively spent on the growth of the unborn baby and depletes the mother's blood with the main oxygen carrier - hemoglobin. After birth bleeding, anemia can not only persist, but also increase. Therefore, it is so important to correct low hemoglobin and red blood cells during pregnancy, reduce blood loss during childbirth, and treat postpartum anemia (see).

Fainting in a woman

Gentle ladies and young ladies of past centuries considered it good form to get away from all sorts of everyday difficulties and delicate situations with the help of a banal swoon. This passage was facilitated by tight corsets, squeezing the ribs and making breathing difficult, dietary restrictions leading to anemia and a mobile psyche, loosened by reading French novels. Nekrasov's and Leskov's characters of peasant and petty-bourgeois origin suffered from fainting much less often, and did not know hysterical loss of consciousness at all.

Today, women most often faint in full health on the background of menstrual bleeding. This happens for the following reasons:

• neglect of taking iron-containing drugs on critical days that prevent the development of acute post-hemorrhagic anemia against the background of heavy periods,
• the presence of untreated gynecological or hormonal problems, leading to a violation of the contractility of the uterus and provoking menstrual pain, easily stopped by indomethacin.

Fainting in diseases

Vascular diseases

Atherosclerosis, stenosis of the vessels of the neck and brain lead to chronic disorders of cerebral circulation, in which, along with impaired memory, sleep and hearing, periodic syncope of various durations can be observed.

Traumatic brain injury

Head injuries (concussions, bruises of the brain) are accompanied by loss of consciousness of different depths. Fainting itself is a criterion by which an express diagnosis of a concussion is carried out.

Shock

Shock (painful, infectious-toxic) is often accompanied by impaired consciousness. In case of injuries or diseases of the internal organs, pain or toxins trigger a reflex chain of vascular reactions, leading to depression of the cerebral cortex.

Cardiac pathologies

Defects of the heart and large vessels provoke insufficient release of blood into the systemic circulation and insufficient nutrition of the brain. Acute myocardial infarction is often complicated by loss of consciousness due to a sharp drop in cardiac contractility. Severe rhythm disturbances also go to syncope: sick sinus syndrome, atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, transverse heart blocks and frequent extrasystoles. A typical rhythm disturbance, in which there are bouts of loss of consciousness, is the Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome.

Pulmonary pathologies

For example, bronchial asthma leads to impaired gas exchange between the lungs and tissues. As a result, oxygen does not get enough to the brain. Also, loss of consciousness is accompanied by pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus leads to loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis, which can quickly develop into a coma. Therefore, it is so important to observe the regimen and dose of hypoglycemic drugs.

Diseases accompanied by irritation of the reflex zones of the vagus nerve

This is a peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis, especially destructive pancreatitis, cause over-irritation of the vagus nerve, which also innervates the heart. As a result, the conditions of blood supply to the cerebral cortex worsen.

Other reasons

• A sharp decrease in the volume of circulating blood against the background of bleeding, vomiting or diarrhea does not make it possible to adequately supply the brain with oxygen.
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia does not allow the vessels to timely and adequately adjust the lumen to the requirements of a changing external environment. The result is extremely frequent fainting against the background of sudden pressure surges.
• Poisoning by neurotoxic snake venoms, alcohol and its surrogates, organophosphorus compounds also lead to fainting.
• Loss of consciousness can be a side effect of antipsychotics, antihypertensives, ganglion blockers, tranquilizers, isoniazid derivatives.
• Fainting can be the result of uremia in renal failure.
• Hypersensitivity of carotid sinus baroreceptors can lead to syncope.

Fainting in children

Children suffer from fainting for the same reasons as adults. Since the adaptive capabilities of the child's body are weak, every fainting in a child is an occasion to be examined by a pediatrician and a neurologist. For quite harmless short-term loss of consciousness in a child, terrible diseases of the nervous system or blood can be hidden.

Fainting in a teenager

This is often the result of rapid growth. Girls are more likely to suffer from latent anemia and vegetovascular dystonia, young people from dysplasia of the connective tissue of the heart. For example, such a mild defect as mitral valve prolapse, which thin tall young men most often suffer from, has almost the only striking manifestation of darkening in the eyes or loss of consciousness when standing up abruptly.

How is fainting different from loss of consciousness?

Acute thrombosis, embolism or rupture of vessels become the causes of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, which may begin with loss of consciousness. In this case, the loss of consciousness is longer and deeper than fainting. She could easily go into a coma.

Epilepsy, accompanied by impaired consciousness (for example, atonic seizures) is also not exactly fainting. At the heart of epileptic seizures is a violation of the excitation of the nerve cells of the cortex. Which trigger an imbalance of excitation and inhibition, secondarily causing metabolic disorders in neurocytes.

In any case, fainting and loss of consciousness is a reason for emergency care and subsequent referral to a doctor.

Help with fainting

• The fainted person should be laid on a flat surface with legs raised above the level of the body, eliminating, if possible, the cause of the loss of consciousness (remove from a direct source of heat, unfasten the tight belt and collar, free the neck from unnecessary objects).
• Provide fresh air supply.
• Let the vapors of ammonia be inhaled.
• Put a towel moistened with cold water on your forehead and temples.

First aid for loss of consciousness

If the activities carried out with ordinary fainting are ineffective in the first two minutes, you should immediately call an ambulance team that can provide specialized assistance and take the patient to a hospital for treatment and clarify the causes of loss of consciousness.

Loss of consciousness is a condition that is caused by a transient dysfunction of cerebral blood flow, causing tissue hypoxia. It manifests itself in the loss of a person's awareness of reality, the disappearance of reflexes, the lack of response to stimulation from the outside (deafening sounds, pinches, pats on the cheeks), and inhibition of the ganglionic nervous system. The disassembled condition is often a sign of various pathologies or may be accompanied by individual ailments. There are many reasons for the disappearance of consciousness.

Sudden loss of consciousness is characterized by neurogenic etiology (epilepsy or stroke) or somatogenic (hypoglycemia, cardiac dysfunction) genesis. In addition, it is short-lived or stable.

Causes of loss of consciousness

- orthostatic, manifested by a sharp adoption of a vertical position, taking some pharmacopoeial drugs;

- occur due to increased susceptibility of the carotid sinus;

- appear due to squeezing inside the breasts (appears with frequent nighttime urination, coughing, defecation acts).

Hyperventilation syncope occurs due to a feeling of fear, anxiety. Its mechanism is due to uncontrolled acceleration and deepening of breathing.

The following are typical signs and symptoms of loss of consciousness. Before falling into an unconscious state, the individual often feels an attack of dizziness, nausea, a veil appears, flies before the eyes, the subject hears a ringing, sudden weakness occurs, and occasionally a yawn. Limbs may also give way and a feeling of impending fainting may appear.

The characteristic symptoms of the described condition include: cold sweat, fading of the skin, although some individuals may retain a slight blush. After falling into an insensible state, the epidermis of the individual acquires an ashy hue, the frequency of myocardial contractions can either increase or decrease, the pulse is characterized by a small fullness, muscle tone is reduced. During the stay of an individual in a fainting state, his pupils are dilated, they react slowly to light. Reflexes are often weakly expressed or absent altogether. Symptoms of short-term loss of consciousness persist for no more than two seconds.

Prolonged loss of consciousness is characterized by an unconscious state lasting more than five minutes. This condition is often accompanied by convulsions and involuntary urination.

Usually, doctors distinguish three phases of loss of consciousness: pre-syncope, fainting directly, post-syncoping state.

The state preceding the loss of consciousness is characterized by the appearance of precursors. This state lasts up to twenty seconds. It manifests itself with the following symptoms: nausea, lack of air, severe dizziness, weakness, a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities, pallor of the dermis, cold sweat, numbness of the extremities, slower breathing, weak pulse, pressure drop, darkening and the appearance of "flies" in the eyes, grayness of the skin integument, patients may feel a ringing. In some patients, along with the symptoms being analyzed, there is also anxiety or a feeling of fear, palpitations, yawning, a feeling like a lump in the throat, numbness of the tip of the tongue, fingers, lips. Quite often the loss of consciousness does not come, and the attack comes to the end on the listed symptoms. Especially when taken by the patient immediately after the appearance of the first harbinger of a horizontal position. Very rarely, fainting is characterized by suddenness, in other words, it occurs in the absence of previous precursors. For example, with various myocardial rhythm disturbances. The feeling of loss of consciousness and "floating away from under the feet of the earth" are the final sign of the phase in question.

The stage of fainting itself has the following signs of loss of consciousness: unconsciousness, shallow breathing, decreased muscle tone, weakness of neurological reflexes, and sometimes convulsions. The pupils are dilated, the reaction to light is reduced. The pulse is rather weak or not palpable at all.

While in an insensible state, the epidermis becomes pale, ashy or greenish, the limbs are cold to the touch, the pressure decreases (systolic pressure reaches 60 mm Hg and below), the pupils are dilated, they react poorly to light, breathing becomes superficial (sometimes it seems that a person does not breathe at all), the pulse is rather weak, thready, reflexes decrease. If after twenty seconds blood circulation in the brain is not restored, then involuntary urination and defecation may occur, and convulsions are also possible.

The post-fainting stage is characterized by the persistence of general weakness against the background of the return of consciousness. In this case, a sharp adoption of a horizontal position can give rise to a new attack.

After the full return of consciousness, patients do not have disorientation in time, their own personality and space. The first reaction to fainting is fright. Therefore, breathing and heart rate increase. People feel tired, feel weak, often appear in the epigastric region of discomfort. People do not remember the middle phase of the insensible state. Their last memories relate to the first stage, that is, the deterioration of well-being.

Brief loss of consciousness

A sudden fall into an insensible state always provokes stress in people, since their brain associates the phenomenon in question with a life-threatening disorder or imminent death. Loss of consciousness mainly occurs due to deficiency of O2 in the brain tissues. Since this organ has a rather intensive metabolic exchange and the need to consume a huge amount of oxygen, a slight decrease in oxygen content causes disturbances in consciousness.

The brain regulates the functioning of the body. He can also turn off organs that he currently considers insignificant for the life of the organism, and help vital organs, such as the heart. Turning off consciousness, the brain, as it were, disconnects individual oxygen consumers from the chain in order to reduce the body's energy consumption. The consequence of this is muscle weakness, dizziness and loss of consciousness, in which the body assumes a horizontal position, becomes completely immobilized, which allows the body to direct blood flow to the neurons of the brain. As a result of this mechanism, the individual quickly returns to consciousness.

A short-term loss of consciousness can be neurogenic, somatogenic and extreme.

In turn, neurogenic syncope is caused by a variety of factors and is divided into the following types, namely, reflex syncope, emotional, associative, dyscirculatory, maladjustment.

Reflex syncope is provoked by an increase in the tension of the parasympathetic nervous system, a decrease in pressure due to the rapid expansion of capillaries, which reduces the blood supply to the brain tissue. This type of fainting occurs mainly in a standing position. Reflex unconsciousness can occur due to exposure to stressors, a sudden sensation of pain (more often in young people). In addition, the considered variation of fainting often occurs with rapid movement from a horizontal position to the vertical torso of a person, with a long stay in a horizontal position, defecation, urination, while eating (mainly in the elderly).

Emotional loss of consciousness occurs due to a sharp emotional outburst, fright. It is more often observed in neurotic conditions. Often, emotionally unstable individuals experience palpitations, a feeling of heat and difficulty breathing against the background of a frightening event. There may also be a feeling of loss of consciousness.

Associative syncope occurs if the subject has a memory of past pathogenic situations associated with loss of consciousness.

Dyscirculatory unconsciousness is caused by a transient spasm of the brain capillaries, which deprives a certain segment of the brain of oxygen for a short period. The most commonly described kind of insensible state is found in subjects suffering from vascular dystonia, migraines, and hypertensive crisis.

Maladaptive loss of consciousness appears when an individual stays in a hot room, in an environment with a low or high oxygen content.

Cardiogenic syncope occurs due to cardiac pathology, for example, with valvular disease, insufficient blood ejection, arrhythmias.

Sudden loss of consciousness of a somatogenic nature is associated with dysfunction of some organs. Therefore, it can be of cardiogenic origin, hypoglycemic, anemic and respiratory.

Anemic syncope occurs as a result of significant blood loss, in particular, quantitative loss of erythrocytes, which are the main carriers of O2.

Hypoglycemic unconsciousness is observed in a situation of a sudden rapid decrease in blood sugar, which is the main nutrient of the brain.

Respiratory syncope is caused by a disorder of the respiratory system.

Weakness loss of consciousness of extreme genesis occurs due to the influence of various external factors. It happens:

- intoxication, by inhalation of various toxic gases;

- medication, due to the use of pharmacopoeial agents that reduce the tone of capillaries;

- hyperbaric, due to high pressure in the respiratory system due to increased numbers of atmospheric pressure;

Fainting and loss of consciousness, what's the difference

Both of these phenomena are not uncommon, but it is quite difficult for an untrained person to determine whether an individual has fainted or lost consciousness. The average layman does not have the proper knowledge, therefore, he cannot notice the difference between fainting and loss of consciousness.

So, a faint is called a sudden, short-term loss of reason, due to a transient insufficiency of the capillaries of the brain. In other words, the brain feels a lack of oxygen due to poor blood flow. The described state comes as a result of a sharp oxygen starvation. It is accompanied by inhibition of reflexes, a decrease in the frequency of myocardial contractions, and a decrease in pressure.

Loss of consciousness is a long-term disorder in which there is a lack of reflexes and depression of the ganglionic nervous system. The violation in question is dangerous with the possibility of going into a coma.

Below are the main characteristics of loss of consciousness and fainting.

Absolutely all individuals can fall into a state of syncope or fainting, regardless of their age differences, gender and physical condition. A short syncope often occurs with fright, in a stuffy room due to lack of air, during menstruation, during gestation, with a sudden decrease in pressure, due to an overdose of drugs or abuse of alcohol-containing liquids, with excessive physical exertion, hunger strike or improper diet. Each of the above factors provokes the outflow of blood from the brain tissues, which gives rise to a short-term oxygen starvation of neurons.

The main signs of syncope (fainting) are the following: a slight clouding of the mind, noise that occurs in the ears, yawning, dizziness, cooling of the extremities, blanching or cyanosis of the dermis, profuse sweating, decreased muscle tension, nausea, pressure drop, unpleasant sensation in the mouth, dilated pupils . Falling into a faint looks from the side as if a person is gradually settling on the floor. Disabling consciousness does not occur instantly and can last up to 120 seconds.

Loss of consciousness is a prolonged syncope that occurs due to a severe oxygen deficiency in the brain cells.

Among the factors that give rise to the violation in question, the following are distinguished: impaired blood flow through the capillaries caused by thrombosis, arrhythmia, narrowing of the lumen of blood capillaries, embolism, venous congestion, cardiac output insufficiency, lowering sugar concentration, insulin overdose, epilepsy, concussion, pathologies of the nervous system, chronic diseases of the pulmonary system, osteochondrosis of the cervical segment, intoxication of the body with various toxic agents, such as: nicotine, carbon monoxide, alcohol-containing substances.

In the unconscious state, the individual lies motionless. He has no reactions to external stimuli, the muscles of the body are relaxed, due to which involuntary urination or defecation is possible, the photosensitivity of the pupils is reduced. Skin cyanosis of the skin, cyanosis of the nails due to impaired breathing and oxygen deficiency are also noted.

First aid for loss of consciousness

Noticing that the individual is losing consciousness, in the first turn, it is recommended to provide first aid and take actions to prevent the occurrence of bruises and head injuries. Then the etiological factor of syncope should be eliminated. For example, if an individual is turned off due to heat, then the temperature in the room must be lowered by opening the windows. You can try to bring the person back to consciousness through external stimuli (sprinkling the face with cold water, patting the cheeks, irritation with ammonia).

Loss of consciousness first aid should exclude commotion and unnecessary fuss. will only make the situation worse.

If an individual has an ordinary faint, then the elimination of the factor that gave rise to such a state will quickly return the person to reason. In fainting, loss of consciousness occurs due to a violation of the blood supply to the brain. Therefore, the restoration of normal blood circulation is the main task of people providing assistance. In order to return blood flow to normal, it is necessary to lay the victim down. In this case, his body should be placed on the same level with his head. This means that, contrary to the popular opinion of the inhabitants, nothing needs to be placed under the head, and even more so, it should not be thrown back. Since the vascular tone is reduced, raising the head will lead to the outflow of blood from the brain cells and the restoration of the blood supply to the brain will not happen.

Assistance with loss of consciousness usually differs little from measures to bring a person out of a faint. The patient must be removed from the area of ​​influence of damaging factors, his clothes should be unbuttoned to provide air access, laid horizontally, it is not recommended to shake or try to lift the patient. If nosebleeds occur, the individual should be laid on their side. It is impossible to give water to a person who is insensible, since his reflexes, including swallowing, are absent. The patient may choke if you try to force him to drink. If the individual has not regained consciousness after one hundred and twenty seconds, then he must be hospitalized.

Fainting rarely occurs suddenly. It often follows pre-syncope symptoms, which include rapidly increasing nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, and blurred vision. All of the above is observed against the background of general weakness. Sometimes there may be yawning, sweating. The human epidermis acquires a waxy pallor. After that, relaxation of the muscles is noted, the individual turns off and settles. From the moment the first signs of feeling unwell are discovered to the fall, most often, no more than sixty seconds pass. Therefore, loss of consciousness, first aid should begin immediately after the appearance of debut precursors. Indeed, often the etiological factor is unknown.

It is impossible for an individual who has regained consciousness to independently give medications, in particular, nitroglycerin with complaints of cardiac algia. Since such actions can generate a drop in pressure, which will cause repeated fainting. Often, loss of consciousness occurs against the background of a sharp drop in pressure, in which any nitrate-containing substances are completely contraindicated.

Loss of consciousness is considered a rather threatening symptom, indicating the presence of a serious pathology in the body. Therefore, assistance with loss of consciousness should be provided immediately. A person assisting with a loss of consciousness does not have time to panic. After all, any delay often carries a serious threat to the life of the victim.

Diagnosing loss of consciousness is not difficult. Suffice it to note the presence of such phenomena as the lack of response to external stimuli, including pain, complete immobility, excluding convulsions. In this case, the definition of the etiological factor is often difficult.

In order to facilitate the task of diagnosing syncope, physicians use all research methods known to modern science. The process of diagnosing begins with a study of the anamnesis, which makes it possible to identify the presence of pathologies that can cause loss of consciousness, to determine the use of pharmacopoeial drugs that lower blood pressure or affect the functioning of the nervous system, it turns out, if possible, a provoking phenomenon, for example, physical overstrain, rapid rise from a lying position , being in a stuffy room, heat.

From laboratory studies, first of all, blood sampling is carried out:

- to conduct a general analysis to detect the presence of anemia;

- to determine the concentration of glucose (this analysis allows you to establish the presence of hyper- or hypoglycemia);

- to identify indicators of blood saturation with O2 (helps to identify disorders that prevent normal oxygenation).

Various instrumental studies are also carried out:

- electrocardiogram, which allows to establish the presence of heart blockades and arrhythmias;

- a kind of electrocardiogram - daily monitoring of the myocardial rhythm;

- ultrasound examination of the heart muscle, which helps to detect changes in the cardiac contractility of the heart, to establish the condition of the valves;

- dopplerography of carotid capillaries, which helps to establish barriers to blood flow;

- computed tomography, which allows to detect brain pathologies;

- magnetic resonance imaging, aimed at establishing damaged segments of the brain tissue.

In order not to face in life with the violation in question, it is necessary to take preventive measures.

To prevent syncope, the ideal solution is regular exercise, which optimizes the natural blood circulation and strengthens the blood capillaries. At the same time, it must be taken into account that any load on the body, first of all, should be regulated and moderate. No need to try to break Olympic records in the first lesson. The key here is consistency, not intensity. In addition, the nightly promenade not only minimizes the risks of loss of consciousness, but also increases the overall resistance of the body to various ailments and stresses.

Aromatherapy also occupies an important position in the list of preventive measures. Regular aroma procedures help to get rid of convulsions, spasms, improve blood circulation, and saturate blood with O2.

In addition to the listed preventive measures, there are measures aimed at avoiding fainting when harbingers are felt. If suddenly there is numbness of the limbs, nausea, cold sweat, then you need to quickly take a supine position, while raising your legs up, or sit down, lowering your head below knee level. Then you should remove from the neck area any objects that interfere with free breathing (tie, scarf). After easing the condition, it is recommended to drink water or sweet tea.

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional advice and qualified medical assistance. In case of loss of consciousness, be sure to seek medical help!

Fainting is caused by a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain and may be a sign of a more serious illness...

Temporary loss of consciousness - fainting

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness.

Fainting is caused by a temporary loss of blood supply to the brain and may be a sign of a more serious illness.

People of any age can faint, but older people may have more serious causes.

The most common causes of fainting are vasovagal (a sharp decrease in heart rate and blood pressure) and heart disease.

In most cases, the cause of fainting is unknown.

Fainting can have many different causes:

Vasovagal syncope also known as "general weakness". This is the most common cause of fainting due to an abnormal vascular reflex.

The heart pumps more vigorously, the blood vessels relax, but the heart rate does not compensate fast enough to keep blood flowing to the brain.

Causes of vasovagal syncope:

1) environmental factors (more often when it's hot);

2) emotional factors (stress);

3) physical factors (loads);

4) illness (fatigue, dehydration, etc.).

situational syncope only happens in certain situations.

Causes of situational syncope:

1) cough (some people faint with a strong cough);

2) when swallowing (in some people, loss of consciousness is associated with a disease in the throat or esophagus);

3) when urinating (when a susceptible person passes out with an overflowing bladder);

4) hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus (in some people when turning the neck, shaving or wearing a tight collar);

5) Postprandial syncope can occur in older people when their blood pressure drops about an hour after eating.

orthostatic syncope occurs when a person feels fine in a lying position, but when he gets up, he may suddenly faint. Brain blood flow decreases when a person is standing due to a temporary drop in blood pressure.

This syncope sometimes occurs in people who have recently started (or received a replacement for) certain cardiovascular medications.

Orthostatic syncope can be due to the following reasons:

1) low circulating blood volume caused by blood loss (external or internal blood loss), dehydration, or heat exhaustion;

2) impaired circulatory reflexes caused by drugs, diseases of the nervous system, or congenital problems. Cardiac syncope occurs when a person loses consciousness due to cardiovascular disease.

Cardiac causes of syncope are usually life-threatening and include the following:

1) anomaly of the heart rhythm - arrhythmia. Electrical problems in the heart impair its pumping ability. This leads to a decrease in blood flow. The heart rate may be too fast or too slow. This condition usually causes fainting without any warning.

2) cardiac obstacles. Blood flow may be obstructed in the blood vessels in the chest. Cardiac obstruction can cause loss of consciousness during exercise. Various diseases can lead to obstruction (heart attacks, diseased heart valves in pulmonary embolism, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac and aortic tamponade).

3) heart failure: the pumping ability of the heart is impaired. This reduces the force with which blood circulates in the body, which can reduce blood flow to the brain.

neurological syncope may be associated with neurological conditions.

Its reasons are:

1) a stroke (bleeding in the brain) can cause fainting associated with a headache;

2) transient ischemic attack (or mini-stroke) can cause loss of consciousness. In this case, fainting is usually preceded by double vision, loss of balance, slurred speech, or dizziness;

3) in rare cases, a migraine can cause fainting. Psychogenic fainting. Hyperventilation due to anxiety can lead to fainting. The diagnosis of psychogenic syncope should only be considered after all other causes have been ruled out.

Syncope symptoms

Loss of consciousness is an obvious sign of fainting.

Vasovagal syncope. Before fainting, a person may feel light-headed; blurred vision will be noted. A person can see "spots before the eyes."

The patient has pallor, dilated pupils, and sweating.

During a loss of consciousness, a person may have a low heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute).

The person must quickly regain consciousness. Many people do not have any warning signs before fainting.

Situational fainting. Consciousness returns very quickly when the situation passes.

Orthostatic fainting. Before a fainting episode, a person may notice blood loss (black stools, heavy menstruation) or fluid loss (vomiting, diarrhea, fever). The person may also be delirious. Observers may also note pallor, sweating, or signs of dehydration (dry lips and tongue).

Cardiac fainting. The person may report palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Observers may note weakness, irregular pulse, pallor, or sweating in the patient. Fainting often occurs without warning or after exertion.

Neurological fainting. The person may have a headache, loss of balance, slurred speech, double vision, or dizziness (feeling like the room is spinning). Observers note a strong pulse during the unconscious period and normal skin color.

When to seek medical help?

Since fainting can be caused by a severe condition, all episodes of loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.

Any person, even after the first episode of loss of consciousness, should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Depending on what the physical examination reveals, the doctor may require tests to be done.

These tests may include: blood tests; ECG, daily monitoring, echocardiography, functional stress test. Table tilt test. This test tests how your body reacts to changes in position. Tests to detect problems of the nervous system (CT of the head, MRI of the brain or EEG).

If the person next to you has fainted, help him.

• Lay it on the ground to minimize the chance of injury.
• Stimulate the person actively and call 911 immediately if the person does not respond.
• Check the pulse and start CPR if necessary.
• If the person recovers, let him lie down until the ambulance arrives.
• Even if the cause of fainting is not dangerous, have the person lie down for 15-20 minutes before getting up.
• Ask him about any symptoms such as headache, back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, weakness, or loss of function because these may indicate life-threatening causes of fainting.

Syncope treatment

Treatment for fainting depends on the diagnosis.

Vasovagal syncope. Drink plenty of water, increase your salt intake (under medical supervision), and don't stand for long periods of time.

Orthostatic fainting. Change your lifestyle: sit down, flex your calf muscles for a few minutes before getting out of bed. Avoid dehydration.

Elderly people with low blood pressure large meals should be avoided after meals, or plans should be made to lie down for a few hours after meals. In most cases, you should stop taking drugs that cause fainting (or replace them).

Cardiac fainting. To treat cardiac syncope, the underlying disease must be treated.

Valvular heart disease often requires surgery, while arrhythmia can be treated with drugs.

Medications and lifestyle changes.

These procedures are designed to optimize the performance of the heart, control of high blood pressure is necessary; in some cases, antiarrhythmic drugs may be prescribed.

Surgery: bypass surgery or angioplasty are used to treat coronary heart disease; in some cases the valves can be replaced. A pacemaker may be implanted to normalize the heart rate (slows the heart for fast arrhythmias or speeds up the heart for slow arrhythmias). Implanted defibrillators are used to manage life-threatening rapid arrhythmias.

Syncope Prevention

Preventive measures depend on the cause and severity of the fainting problem.

Fainting can sometimes be prevented by taking simple precautions.

• If you are weak because of the heat, cool the body.
• If you faint while standing (after lying down), move slowly while standing. Slowly move into a sitting position and rest for a few minutes. When you are ready, stand up using slow and fluid movements.

In other cases, the causes of fainting may be elusive. So see your doctor to determine the cause of fainting.

After determining the cause, treatment of the underlying disease should begin.

Cardiac syncope: due to the high risk of death from cardiac syncope, people who experience it should be treated for the underlying disease.

Periodic fainting. Consult a doctor to determine the causes of frequent loss of consciousness.

Prognosis due to syncope

The prognosis for a person who has fainted depends largely on the cause, the age of the patient, and the treatments available.

• Cardiac syncope has the greatest risk of sudden death, especially in the elderly.
• Syncope that is not associated with cardiac or neurological disease is a more limited risk than in the general population.

Checking the pulse in the neck. The pulse is well felt only near the throat (trachea).

If a pulse is felt, note if it is regular and count the number of beats in 15 seconds.

To determine the heart rate (beats per minute), multiply this number by 4.

The normal heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

If you fainted only once, then you don't have to worry about it.

It is important to see a doctor because fainting can have serious causes.

Fainting can be a sign of a serious problem if:

1) It often happens within a short period of time.

2) it occurs during exercise or vigorous activity.

3) fainting occurs without warning or in a supine position. In mild syncope, the person often knows that it is about to happen, vomiting or nausea is noted.

4) a person loses a lot of blood. This may include internal bleeding.

5) there is shortness of breath.

6) there is pain in the chest.

7) the person feels that his heart is pounding (palpitations).

8) Fainting occurs along with numbness or tingling in one side of the face or body. published .

If you have any questions, ask them

The materials are for informational purposes only. Remember, self-medication is life-threatening, consult a doctor for advice on the use of any medications and treatments.

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet

Fainting can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or age. Therefore, it is necessary to know the rules of first aid in such a situation. This is necessary in order not to get confused and correctly assess the situation.

Causes of fainting

According to the latest statistics, 20% of people at least once in their lives experienced a short-term loss of consciousness. This happens with the person himself or with his relatives, friends, acquaintances. Both men and women can faint for various reasons. Even a child can lose consciousness as a result of certain factors. The main thing at this moment is not to panic, but to clearly know what to do if a person fainted.

First of all, it is worth paying attention to why a person loses consciousness. There are several common conditions that could lead to a short-term loss of consciousness. They are united by one factor: a violation of proper blood circulation in the brain. The main reasons why people faint are:

• a change in body position that occurred suddenly or abruptly. For example, a person began to get up quickly;
• weather conditions, which include extreme heat or closeness;
• excessive physical activity. Especially when an absolutely unprepared person began to attend training;
• strong emotional experiences and a state of chronic stress;
• emotions such as fear, excitement, panic, fear;
• various diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• pregnancy;
• high or low pressure;
• poisoning the body with food or drugs;
• diseases that are localized in the cervical spine;
• constant overwork;
• low level of hemoglobin in the blood;
• acclimatization;
• sun and heat stroke;
• alcohol abuse;
• if you drink strong tea or coffee in large quantities;
• if you do not eat anything for a long time and experience severe hunger;
• injuries of varying severity.

Another reason why people faint may be taking blood for analysis in the treatment room. This happens as a result of the fact that a person simultaneously experiences a feeling of fear, panic and pain.

In addition, there is a weighty premise why women often lose consciousness. They always strive to look good, and in pursuit of ideal forms, they resort to various diet pills. Most of them have a diuretic effect, disrupt the balance of fluid in the body, which can cause a short-term loss of consciousness.

A person may notice some changes in his condition, which become harbingers of impending fainting. These include:

• increasing noise or buzzing in the ears;
• the heart starts to beat faster. A strong pulsation may be felt in the chest or in the neck;
• respiratory failure. A person may experience rare or, conversely, too frequent inhalations and exhalations;
• loss of balance;
• feeling of general weakness and malaise;
• limbs begin to go numb;
• the appearance of darkening in the eyes;
• head starts to spin.

If you do not provide first aid, then after these symptoms, a person has a blanching of the skin, his eyes roll up, and there is a short-term loss of consciousness. The victim simply falls to the ground.

When a person suddenly loses consciousness, they can be seriously injured or disabled. The victim's breathing slows down, the pulse is poorly palpable. In some people, cold sweat appears through the skin.

Fainting can happen very quickly or occur several hours after the trigger. It all depends on the environment and the individual characteristics of the organism. If you know the harbingers of fainting, then you can avoid a short-term loss of consciousness not only among the people around you, but even in yourself.

First aid

It is vital at this moment not to get confused, but, on the contrary, to concentrate and provide first aid. There is a certain algorithm according to which this must be done. The basic rules for first aid for fainting include:

1. Check the breathing and pulse of the injured person. If they are absent, then you should immediately call an ambulance. Immediately after this, you need to start resuscitation.
2. The person must be placed on their back. It is best to use a hard horizontal surface for this. The victim should be laid in such a way that his legs are raised 30 cm above his head. This posture will help normalize blood circulation, which will saturate the brain with oxygen. If the fainting happened on a summer day, then the victim must be moved to the shade.
3. Provide fresh air supply. The best way to do this is to open a window or door in the room. Factors such as pandemonium, stuffiness, stale air will only worsen a person's condition.
4. If a man fainted, then you need to loosen the knot of the tie, unbutton the top buttons of the shirt. In the event of a short-term loss of consciousness in a woman, all jewelry must be removed from her neck and freed from tight clothing that prevents proper breathing. If a person has a belt, then it also needs to be loosened or completely unfastened.
5. Start massaging your earlobes. This improves blood circulation in the head area, which will help oxygenate the brain faster.

If necessary, the victim's face can be lightly wiped with a dampened towel or wet wipes. If fainting happened in the cold season on the street, then it is better not to do this so as not to provoke frostbite.

It is also worth remembering that a person can be in a fainting state for no more than 5 minutes. If after all the first aid measures and after this period, he did not come to his senses, then you should immediately call an ambulance. Qualified doctors will quickly bring the patient to consciousness and establish the cause of a deep faint.

What not to do when giving first aid?

Activities that will help bring a person to life after fainting do not represent complex actions or manipulations. It is important to follow the correct sequence, as well as avoid common mistakes. An unconscious person is prohibited from doing the following:

• pour water on the face;
• drink any liquid;
• give different kinds of medicines. This is especially true for cardiac and antihypertensive drugs.

Be sure to remember that ammonia and other types of folk remedies can be given to a person only when he is in a fainting state. If he has already lost consciousness, then these substances can provoke a reflex spasm, which will lead to deterioration and difficulty in breathing.

Fainting indoors

Very often in the summer it becomes too hot and stuffy in the rooms. This can be the main cause of short-term loss of consciousness in both men and women. If a person fainted indoors, then, first of all, he should be transferred to a sofa or other horizontal surface. Place a cushion under your feet so that they are above the level of your head. This position of the body will help to quickly normalize blood circulation and bring a person to life.

If the casualty is wearing a belt, tie, or similar garment, these should be loosened or removed completely to allow air to flow. The face can be wiped with wet wipes or a handkerchief moistened with water. It should not be too cold, on the contrary, room temperature.

In a stuffy room, be sure to provide an influx of fresh air. To do this, you can open the window and doors. In this case, the victim should not be in a draft.

After the person comes to his senses, he can be drunk with sweet warm tea. This will help eliminate discomfort after fainting.

If a person does not come to his senses for a long period of time, then it is necessary to call an ambulance team. Qualified doctors will be able to accurately determine the reason why a person constantly faints, and quickly bring the victim out of this state.

Passing out on the street

If a person fainted, the causes of which may be completely different, in winter, the victim should be laid on the ground or the nearest bench. Do not take off his outer clothing to prevent frostbite. During a strong cold wind, it is necessary to protect the victim from its gusts. To do this, stand on the side where there is a strong air flow. In case of loss of consciousness in the summer, a person, first of all, must be carried into the shade. In direct sunlight, it will only get worse.

If a person has a scarf, belt, shirt collar, jewelry and other items around the neck, then all this must be loosened as much as possible or completely removed to allow normal breathing. In winter, you can rub your face with snow. In the summer - wipe with wet wipes. In their absence, even fruit juice will do. For example, watermelon.

To make sure that the person who fainted is all right, you need to call an ambulance. Doctors will conduct a complete examination of the patient, after which they will be able to identify the true cause of a short-term loss of consciousness. If necessary, he can be hospitalized to observe his state of health for several days.

What to do in case of heat and sunstroke?

Very often in the summer in extreme heat, the cause of fainting is heat or sunstroke. In these cases, it is also very important to concentrate and provide first aid correctly.

Heat stroke occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures. This leads to general overheating, in which a person develops painful sensations. The body loses a lot of fluid, because of which the blood begins to thicken and the water-salt balance is disturbed. As a result, the brain does not receive oxygen in the amount that it needs to function properly. It also affects the state of the heart muscle and blood vessels.

The main symptoms of heat stroke are:

• feeling of being broken;
• headache;
• a person is haunted by apathy and lethargy;
• may feel sick;
• dizziness.

In the most severe situations, fainting and convulsions may occur.

It is very important in case of loss of consciousness as a result of heat stroke to eliminate the cause that provoked overheating of the body. To do this, move the person to a shady area, ventilate the room. To alleviate the condition, it is recommended that the victim wrap his hands with a wet towel or any cloth, and attach a container of cold water or ice to his head.

With sunstroke, there is also a general overheating of the body. But it happens because of a long stay under the sun with an uncovered head. Symptoms and first aid for sunstroke are similar to those for heatstroke. If the victim does not get better, then you need to immediately call an ambulance.

How to prevent

It is not uncommon for a person, being alone in an apartment or office, to feel that he may lose consciousness. At this time, you can feel tinnitus, which increases with every second, or dark flies appear before your eyes. The next stage is the feeling of detachment. That is, objects begin to blur around, there is no clarity in the eyes, it is impossible to focus on one thing. It is very important to prevent fainting so that it does not cause injury.