Fainting symptoms first aid. What are the main signs of fainting in an adult? The most frequent case

Reading 10 min. Views 2.1k. Published on 09/10/2018

Many have seen some guards of honor pass out during official ceremonies. In the strict world of British military protocol, there are even rules about how to pass out with dignity. But why do people faint?

Description of the disease

Fainting is a reversible loss of consciousness caused by a brief interruption of oxygen supply to the brain. In professional medicine, there is a special term for fainting - "syncope".

Only in rare cases can fainting be a sign of a serious illness. Behind the dreaded word "fainting" is often a harmless low blood pressure.

The human brain, like any organ, needs oxygen and consumes a lot of it - 15-20% of the total blood supply to the body. Of all the organs, the brain most acutely feels its shortage. When, for one reason or another, the amount of oxygen entering the brain is reduced or completely interrupted, 10 seconds are enough for a person to sink into an unconscious state. And 4 minutes without oxygen is fraught with irreversible serious cell damage for the brain. For example, the consequences are a clear example of oxygen starvation of the brain when speech, hearing and mobility of the limbs are impaired.

Loss of consciousness, despite its short duration, includes 3 stages:

1. Presyncopal;
2. syncope;
3. Postsyncopal.

In the presyncope stage harbingers of fainting appear in the form of dizziness, nausea and other signs.

In syncope the person has no consciousness. The brain, deprived of food, ceases to send a signal to the muscles. They, in turn, lose their tone and cannot “hold” the body. As a result, the person slowly sinks to the ground.

With prolonged fainting, twitching of the limbs (convulsions) and involuntary urination are possible.

Postsyncope stage begins when the person regains consciousness. As soon as the heart and brain are at the same level - this happens when the body is horizontal - the interrupted blood flow resumes. A pulse appears, the pallor of the face, caused by the outflow of blood, disappears, the person is oriented in the environment, although some lethargy is still present. After fainting, the patient feels weak and drowsy.

Types of fainting

The causes of syncope are complex and varied. Fainting can be triggered by circumstances or the physical condition of the body. There is no single classification of fainting. The main and common types are conventionally divided into the following groups:

• reflex (neurogenic) syncope;
• orthostatic syncope;
• cardiogenic syncope.

Types of syncope differ from each other in etiology, type of triggers, the presence or absence of pre-syncope.

Reflex (neurogenic) syncope

The most common type of syncope has the following varieties:

• vasovagal,
• situational,
• sinocarotid.

Most often observed in adolescents and young people, but no one is safe from it. Occurs when the body is upright and is the body's response to environmental factors. Such factors are excitement, stress, heat, stuffiness, starvation, overwork, fear at the sight of blood or, for example, in the dentist's office, before the inevitable pain. The body responds to these triggers by reducing the tone of the vascular system, and this can provoke fainting.

In vasovagal syncope, the presyncope lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. His symptoms indicate an impending blackout. This time can be used to prevent fainting.

Feeling the first symptoms of pre-syncope, you need to sit or lie down, i.e. change body position. This will improve cerebral blood flow and fainting may be avoided. A wait-and-see attitude and confidence that “it will pass by itself” can lead to disastrous consequences.

Pre-syncope warning signs:

• general weakness, nausea;
• the appearance of "flies" before the eyes, darkening in the eyes;
• the fading of surrounding sounds and the subsequent increase in tinnitus;
• pale skin tone;
• cold extremities;
• cold sweat on forehead and chin;
• lethargy;
• muscle weakness.

Vasovagal syncope is reflex in nature and does not pose a health hazard. Fainting is sometimes a supportive mode that our brain switches to in response to the outflow of blood to the lower extremities.

situational syncope

This type of fainting occurs under certain circumstances. Situational syncope can be triggered by sneezing, urination, defecation, laughter, swallowing food, a strong smell, cold air. These reflex acts performed by a person create tension in the abdominal cavity and contribute to an increase in intrathoracic pressure.

The pressure makes it difficult for venous blood to return to the heart. This leads to fainting. It is observed mainly in older people with chronic respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.). The duration of syncope is from a few seconds to a minute.

It most often occurs in men over 40 years of age. The reason is the increased sensitivity of the carotid sinus (an enlarged part of the carotid artery), which, when mechanically acted upon, causes a reflex slowdown in the heart rate or a drop in blood pressure.

Hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus does not always mean pathology, it is sometimes just an individual feature of a healthy person.
You can fall into a situational faint when you try to look up, throwing your head back, when shaving, wearing tight collars.

The so-called positional syncope occurs when standing up and trying to take a vertical position, as well as when standing for a long time. If you want to change the position of the body from horizontal to vertical, blood pressure drops sharply, blood vessels expand and blood is deposited in the veins of the lower extremities.

Orthostatic syncope depends on the position of the body and never occurs when the body is lying down. This suggests that the regulation of vascular tone is impaired. Normally, such a decrease is short and after three minutes it stabilizes, being compensated by natural mechanisms that ensure the maintenance of vascular tone.
Causes of orthostatic syncope:

• dehydration (due to diabetes);
• Parkinson's disease;
• prolonged bed rest;
• pregnancy;
• the use of tranquilizers and antidepressants;
• anemia.

Signs of an orthostatic type of syncope are darkening in the eyes, dizziness, a feeling of floating "the soil from under the feet." Duration - 8-10 seconds.

This is the most dangerous type of fainting associated with abnormal heart function. When the cardiac output needed to maintain normal blood flow drops below a critical level, syncope occurs.

The reason for the decrease in cardiac output is arrhythmia due to myocardial infarction. With arrhythmia, the frequency and regularity of heartbeats are disturbed. A change in the pulse rate leads to a disorder of cerebral circulation.
Symptoms of pre-syncope state of cardiogenic syncope:

• pain in the region of the heart;
• cardiopalmus;
• feeling of tightness in the chest, lack of air.

Fainting symptoms:

• face is pale;
• pupils are dilated;
• blood pressure is low;
• shallow breathing.

Cardiac syncope can occur without warning signs and lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Baby swoons

Although the word "fainting" does not fit with the childish image, many could get their first fainting precisely in childhood.
Children's syncope is not much different from adults, but fortunately, the vast majority of syncope does not pose a danger to their health. Causes of children's fainting - dehydration, hunger, excitement, fear.

Children often pass out at the sight of a doctor and a syringe, while performing on stage, etc. It is hardly worth worrying and attaching great importance to this. Providing first aid for fainting will quickly restore the child's usual state.

If a child fainted in a calm environment, for no apparent reason and is in no way associated with starvation and excitement, then a doctor's consultation is necessary. Frequent fainting should also be alert. An examination is needed to rule out diabetes, arrhythmia, or other heart disease.

Diagnostics

The purpose of diagnosis is to determine the cause of the fainting that has arisen, to find out whether it threatens a person's life. The basis of diagnosis is a survey, physical examination, electrocardiography.

1. Interview carried out in order to clarify the nature of the syncope, to find out whether there was a complete loss of consciousness, to find out about the symptoms preceding fainting, to clarify the time of fainting and the circumstances.
2. Physical examination- this is palpation and auscultation (listening) of peripheral vessels, measurement of blood pressure. The patient's blood pressure is measured in the supine and standing position.
3. Electrocardiography essential for the diagnostic evaluation of syncope. The cause of 10% of syncope is pathology associated with arrhythmia.
4. Orthostatic test is carried out in order to determine the functional state of the cardiovascular system.
5. Holter monitoring will allow to refute or confirm the connection of fainting with heart disease.
6. echocardiography is prescribed if there is a suspicion of structural changes in the heart.
7. Electroencephalography help to differentiate syncope and epileptic seizure.
8. CT scan prescribed for signs of intracranial hypertension.
9. Blood analysis for anemia and diabetes.
10. Troponin I test to rule out myocardial infarction.

Treatment

Syncopal conditions, which are isolated cases of reflex syncope, do not need treatment. For other fainting conditions, therapy is selected individually, taking into account the pathogenetic mechanisms that caused fainting.
In the interictal period, general strengthening treatment is carried out.

Treatment with folk remedies

1. Linden decoction.
   Take 2 tbsp. l. crushed linden flowers pour 400 ml hot water, boil for 10 minutes, insist until cool, strain.
   Drink at night 200-400 ml as a sedative and analgesic for nervous diseases and fainting.
2. Lemon juice.
   

   When fainting, if there is no ammonia, you can use lemon.

   
   In this case, immediately sprinkle the juice from the lemon peel into the nose of the victim, and rub the whiskey with the same crust. It is advisable to prepare
   drink 200 ml of water acidified with lemon and let the awakened person drink.
3. Fruit juices.
   Doctor V. Yatsko from Donetsk recommends drinking 200 ml of orange, tangerine or grape juice to prevent fainting.
4. When a child faints.
   If ammonia is not at hand, take an onion head, cut it and give it a sniff. You can attach chopped onion to the temples, forehead. Bite on the little finger of the left hand (in the center of the first phalanx), press hard index finger under your nose. Wipe face and chest with cold water.

Complications

A person who has fainted is at risk of injury to the face, head, sometimes incompatible with life.

Medical care for fainting may not be needed if there are people nearby who know what to do in such situations.
No need to be scared and panic if someone lost consciousness. Assisting with fainting is not difficult if you know the rules and follow them coolly.

There are several rules, the knowledge of which will provide effective assistance with fainting.

1. Lay the person on their back. Attempts to lift and seat a person who has fainted are a mistake.
2. Check for a pulse on the carotid artery.
3. Remove obstacles that interfere with the rapid flow of blood to the head: unbutton the collar, loosen the tie and belt on the belt.
4. Raise the patient's legs, put clothes folded four times under the shins or something that helps to fix the legs above the body.
5. Sprinkle your face with cold water, bring a cotton swab soaked in ammonia to your nose.

If it was a hungry faint or the result of dehydration, it is undesirable to give the patient carbonated drinks. Strong sweet tea is recommended for full recuperation. Dehydration leads to depletion of brain cells. Oxygen starvation begins, from which both adults and children faint.

Not always a person in a faint needs all the first aid points. Sometimes it is enough just to lay him on his back and consciousness returns. There is no need to torment the patient with pats on the cheek and ammonia.

You need to lie down after fainting for at least 20 minutes, otherwise it may happen again. Coordinated actions in case of fainting will save from its sad consequences and even save someone's life.

Syncope Prevention

To prevent fainting, it is important to avoid provoking situations. A balanced diet, sufficient fluid intake will help to avoid fainting. Do not wear tight collars, do not stay in stuffy rooms, do not abuse alcohol. At the first sign, you should try to sit down or lie down. And if this is not possible, then you need to strain the muscles of the lower body or cross your legs. This will prevent blood flow to the legs.

The brain is a very complex organ and instantly reacts to any malfunction in the body. But the body knows how to protect itself. Programmed to preserve life, in critical situations it turns off the brain to maintain vital processes such as heartbeat and breathing.

Content

Carefully figure out how to provide first aid for fainting - a sudden loss of consciousness due to impaired blood supply to the brain. The fainting state lasts up to several minutes. After some time, a person can come to his senses on his own. Fainting is not considered a disease, but only a symptom of heart failure. The victim must be kept calm and monitored. Read about the rest of the help below.

What is fainting

Syncope, or fainting, is a short-term loss of consciousness that appears suddenly and is not of an epileptic nature. Syncope occurs due to a diffuse decrease in metabolism in the brain. Metabolic disorders are caused by a short-term decrease in cerebral circulation. It is necessary to be able to distinguish between epileptic syncope and ordinary. These two conditions require different methods of treatment, but in both cases the person loses his balance, falls. First aid must be provided immediately.

Fainting and loss of consciousness - what's the difference

Fainting may be a harbinger of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, in which vascular ruptures, acute thrombosis or embolism occur. In this state, the loss of consciousness is profound and longer than fainting. The transition to a coma is not excluded. Fainting is not called epilepsy with impaired consciousness, atonic seizures. Epilepsy occurs due to a violation of the excitation of the cerebral cortex ( nerve cells), which causes an imbalance of inhibition and excitation.

The differences between these states are presented in the table:

Signs of fainting

At the first manifestations of symptoms, it is important to be aware of what to do in case of fainting without harming the victim before the doctor arrives. There are 3 stages of fainting, each of which is characterized by its own symptoms:

1. presyncope (pre-syncope state);
2. syncopal phase;
3. post-syncope (post-syncopal) phase.

Common signs of fainting in humans:

• dizziness;
• drop in blood pressure;
• sudden weakness;
• cold sweat;
• noise in ears;
• veil or darkening before the eyes;
• nausea;
• rare breathing;
• numbness of the limbs;
• insufficient blood circulation;
• rare, shallow breathing.

What can make you lose consciousness

Disorder nervous system exerts too much load on the body, which is difficult for the brain center to endure. There is a shock, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, impaired functioning of the brain. Fainting can occur with other disorders in the human body that are difficult to identify. The district nurse's handbook describes common causes of syncope:

• emotional stress;
• feeling of general weakness (poor nutrition, hunger, prolonged excitement);
• lack of oxygen in the room where the person stays - the oxygen level decreases due to the accumulation of a large number of people in the room, air pollution, poor ventilation system;
• the result of heat stroke;
• prolonged stay in a standing position;
• anemia, arrhythmia;
• bronchial asthma;
• traumatic brain injury;
• severe cough or fever with the flu;
• abdominal trauma;
• blood loss;
• fatigue, overwork;
• pregnancy;
• side effect from taking medication;
• fright;
• adolescence or old age;
• intoxication (with alcohol abuse, infectious origin);
• allergic reaction;
• severe illnesses.

Action algorithm

The first thing to do in the absence of consciousness is to lay the person on his back and feel the pulse. The provision of first aid begins with an assessment of the condition of the victim. With free airways, a person breathes, and his pulse is rare and weak, blood pressure is reduced. What to do in case of fainting that lasts longer than a few minutes requires qualified medical attention.

First aid is provided in the following sequence:

1. Do not let the person fall, lay on a flat surface and raise the legs for blood flow to the brain. If this is not possible, then sit him down and lower his head below the level of his knees.
2. Get rid of the squeezing parts of clothing.
3. Wipe the victim's face with cool water or put a wet towel on the forehead to improve cerebral circulation and constrict blood vessels.
4. Let fresh air into the room.
5. In the presence of vomiting, you need to turn your head to the side or put the victim in a safe position in which the person will not choke on the vomit.
6. After the return of consciousness, bed rest must be observed. Drink hot tea, slightly raised.
7. If a second pre-fainting condition occurs again, then the first paragraph should be repeated.

First aid for fainting in children

If the loss of consciousness occurred not in an adult, but in a child, then how to help him? Children develop these conditions for the same reasons as adults. The child's body is weaker, therefore, after each attack, it is necessary to take the child to a neurologist or pediatrician. Brief blackouts may seem harmless, but they hide more serious illness blood and nervous system. Assistance for fainting children should be provided in the following order:

1. The child is placed in bed and legs are raised. This will improve blood flow to the brain.
2. Remove or loosen parts of clothing that put pressure on the body.
3. Provide access to fresh air flow (open the window).
4. Lightly pat on the cheeks with a towel soaked in water, spray on the face.
5. Let ammonia be inhaled - at a distance of at least 15 cm.
6. Drink hot tea with sugar to relieve dizziness.

Syncope duration

The causes of loss of consciousness determine the duration of fainting. Normal fainting lasts from a few seconds to 2-3 minutes. Nuances:

• When a person does not wake up for more than 5 minutes, then immediately call an ambulance team - it could be a stroke or epilepsy.
• With a stroke, consciousness may not return for several minutes, hours, or even days.
• After a stroke, a person's body is paralyzed.
• With an epileptic seizure, a person develops dangerous flushing of the skin or cyanosis, and not just pallor of the skin.

What to do after fainting

To stabilize the functioning of blood flow in the brain, the victim should lie down for another half an hour in a calm state. The state after fainting should be normalized. To avoid dizziness, let in fresh air. If this is not possible, then gently lift the person. When walking, the patient should be supported, not allowed to be subjected to physical exertion, and sudden movements should be avoided. When such an opportunity presents itself, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a doctor and find out the cause of the disease.

Video: first aid for fainting

Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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 may cause loss of consciousness during physical activity. Various diseases can lead to obstruction (heart attacks, diseased heart valves with 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 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 blood 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. That's why 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

Often we become witnesses of how a person suddenly falls unconscious. How to act in this situation and what caused it? We will talk about this further. Be sure to consider the difference between fainting and loss of consciousness. What should be the emergency assistance to a person?

What is fainting?

Fainting is not a disease. It can be a symptom of some disease, and even then not always. This is just a sudden loss of consciousness as a result of reduced blood flow to the head. Consciousness is restored at the same time spontaneously.

Fainting can be:

• Epileptic.
• Non-epileptic.

After an epileptic, a very long period of return of the victim to a normal state.

Non-epileptic syncope includes:

• Convulsive. Muscle twitching joins the usual fainting.
• Simple fainting.
• Lipotomy. Mild fainting.
• arrhythmic form. It happens with some types of arrhythmias.
• Orthostatic fainting. With a sharp change from horizontal to vertical.
• Bettolepsy. Syncope that appears during a period of chronic lung disease.
• Drop attacks. Very unexpected falls, while the person may not lose consciousness.
• Vasodepressor syncope. It happens in childhood.

Syncope symptoms

Fainting can happen unexpectedly. But sometimes before this there is a pre-fainting state.

The first symptoms are:

• Unexpected weakness.
• Darkening in the eyes.
• There is noise in the ears.
• Pallor.
• Sweating increases.
• Numb limbs.
• May be bothered by nausea.
• Yawn.

Fainting - a short-term loss of consciousness - most often happens to a person at the moment when he is standing. In a sitting position, this happens much less often. And, as a rule, when the position of the body changes, the symptoms of fainting disappear.

Fainting is most often accompanied by symptoms of vegetative-vascular disorders. Namely:

• The face turns pale.
• Cold limbs.
• Sweating increases.
• There is a weak pulse.
• The blood pressure drops a lot.
• Breathing is weak, shallow.
• In this case, the pupils react to light and tendon reflexes are preserved.

In this state, a person can be from a few seconds to 2-5 minutes. Prolonged exposure to fainting can cause increased salivation or convulsive twitching of the muscles, limbs, and facial muscles.

Factors that cause fainting

The causes of fainting and loss of consciousness are very similar:

Sometimes fainting can smoothly flow into loss of consciousness. What is it, we will consider further.

What happens when you lose consciousness

The person suddenly falls and does not respond to external stimuli, such as:

• Light slaps.
• Loud voices.
• Cold or warm.
• Claps.
• Chips.
• Pain.

This condition is the result of a dysfunction of the nervous system. If a person is unconscious for a sufficiently long time, then this is already considered a coma.

Loss of consciousness is divided into:

• Short-term. Lasts from 2 seconds to 2-3 minutes. In such cases, no special medical attention is required.
• Persistent. This condition can have serious consequences for the body. And if you do not provide the necessary medical care in a timely manner, then this can pose a threat to the life and health of the victim.

Manifestations of loss of consciousness are very similar to fainting.

Causes of loss of consciousness

There are several reasons that lead to loss of consciousness:

1. Insufficient blood supply to the brain.
2. Lack of nutrition for the brain.
3. Insufficient oxygen content in the blood.
4. Problems in the work of the cardiovascular system. Heart rhythm disorder, heart attack.
5. Atherosclerotic plaques inside the vessels of the brain.
6. The presence of thrombi.
7. Quite a long time low blood pressure.
8. Sudden change in body position. For example, if you suddenly stand up from a sitting position.
9. shock states:

• Anaphylactic.
• Allergic.
• infectious shock.

10. Complications of serious diseases.

11. Anemia.

12. Pubertal stage of development.

13. Poisoning with oxygen oxide.

14. Head injury.

15. Epilepsy.

16. Stroke.

17. Sharp pain.

18. Nervous tension, lack of sleep, overwork.

The causes of fainting and loss of consciousness in men and women are different.

Women experience loss of consciousness due to internal bleeding, gynecological diseases, if the pregnancy proceeds with pathologies, excessive emotionality or a too strict diet.

Men are more likely to experience loss of consciousness alcohol poisoning, heavy physical activity.

Fainting and loss of consciousness: what's the difference?

They differ from each other in terms of possible consequences. So, with fainting, the cause is a decrease in the volume of blood flowing to the brain, which is accompanied by a sharp drop in blood pressure.

If there is a loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes, serious damage to the brain tissue can occur, which will affect the person's life. The causes of such conditions can be heart disease, epilepsy, stroke.

These two states differ in their duration. So, fainting lasts most often a few seconds, but not more than 5 minutes. Loss of consciousness is considered to be more than 5 minutes.

Above, we examined the reasons for fainting and loss of consciousness. What is the difference and how the recovery goes, we will study further.

After fainting, all reflex, physiological and neurological reactions are quickly restored.

After loss of consciousness, the recovery of the above reactions is very slow or they are not restored at all. It depends on the time the person has spent in an unconscious state. The longer it takes, the harder it is to recover. It will also be affected by the disease itself, that is, the cause of the loss of consciousness.

When a person faints, as a rule, there is no memory loss, as well as any changes during the ECG.

After a person wakes up, he may not remember what happened, and also, most likely, changes on the ECG will be visible.

Causes of deep fainting

A few words about deep fainting. This is a sudden loss of consciousness. The lack of blood flow to the brain contributes to poor metabolism and the supply of oxygen and glucose.

The reasons for this condition may be the following:

1. Decrease in blood flow to the brain can be the result of such diseases:

• Arrhythmia.
• Heart failure.
• Violation of cardiac function during physical exertion.

2. Insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, or hypoxia. May occur in severe upper respiratory tract infections.

3. A sharp drop in blood glucose levels.

Deep syncope with loss of consciousness is a great danger, as it can lead to oxidation of the brain.

If this happens, you should immediately consult a doctor and conduct a complete examination of the body.

Diagnosis after loss of consciousness or fainting

After first aid was provided for fainting and loss of consciousness, and the person came to his senses, it is necessary to analyze the symptoms that may appear.

It is worth paying attention to:

Many dangers can be fraught with fainting and loss of consciousness. What is the difference in developing consequences depends on many factors and the presence of certain diseases in the body. For example:

• Fainting at diabetes, caused by a sharp decrease in blood sugar, can go into a coma.
• In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, the victim loses consciousness, brain hypoxia sets in, and myocardial muscle contraction is inhibited.
• Loss of consciousness after or during exercise is a signal of a serious cardiac pathology.
• A high probability of cardiac pathologies is in older people during loss of consciousness.
• Serious heart diseases are signaled by interruptions in his work and before fainting exceed 5 seconds.
• With loss of consciousness, convulsions that appear may indicate not only epilepsy, but also cerebral ischemia caused by heart disease.
• If a person has cardiovascular pathologies, then loss of consciousness should be considered as a very serious symptom.
• If the patient has had a heart attack and has angina pectoris, cardiomegaly, and symptoms of insufficient blood supply, fainting can be fatal.

With a short-term loss of consciousness, fainting, it is necessary to undergo examinations to clarify the cause of this condition. What - we will consider further:

• To exclude vegetovascular dystonia, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary.
• Consultation with a therapist is needed to exclude hypotension or to prescribe therapy for hypertension.
• Ultrasound, ECG, heart holter for finding cardiac pathologies.
• Ultrasound, dopplerography for the study of cerebral vessels to detect pathologies.

If there was a loss of consciousness, then the following examinations will be needed:

• Blood test to determine the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
• An x-ray is required to examine the lungs.
• Get tested for allergens and visit an allergist if allergic asthma is suspected.
• Undergo spirography to assess external respiration.

It is worth noting that if fainting occurs in a patient under 40 years of age and there are no anomalies on the cardiogram, then it is necessary to look for the cause along the neurological line. If after 40 there are no signs of damage on the cardiogram of the heart, it is still necessary to start with a complete examination of it.

Consequences of fainting and loss of consciousness

Such changes in health status cannot be ignored.

For a person, fainting and loss of consciousness can have different consequences. The differences are that fainting in a mild form can pass without a trace, and loss of consciousness can be a dangerous symptom of any disease and pose a danger to life.

But in any case, it is advisable to consult a doctor after the incident. So, when fainting, there is a great danger of falling tongue, which can block the airways and the person will die from suffocation. With a traumatic brain injury, loss of consciousness is a risk of developing severe dangerous complications, as well as the risk of coma and death.

In case of loss of consciousness or fainting, metabolic disturbances occur in the brain tissue. This can affect the work of the brain, namely, memory worsens, psychological disorders may occur, and attention will decrease. And of course, it can affect the work of all internal organs. The longer the unconscious state, the more dangerous for life, since irreversible processes in the brain tissues can occur. Therefore, first aid should be provided in a timely manner in case of fainting and loss of consciousness. More on this later.

Assistance to the injured

Consider what first aid is in a condition such as fainting and loss of consciousness: what is the difference is difficult to answer. Assistance is provided in both cases in almost the same way.

As we described earlier, before fainting, a person experiences the first symptoms, that is, he has a pre-syncope state:

• Sharp weakness.
• The face turns pale.
• Pupils dilate.
• Perspiration appears.

At this point, if you notice these signs, you need to help the person. What should be done:

• Find a place to move the person to a sitting position.
• Lower your head below your knees.

With these actions, we will improve the blood flow to the head and prevent fainting, as we will eliminate its cause.

What should be the actions in case of fainting, loss of consciousness:

• It is necessary to check the presence of a pulse on the carotid artery and the reaction of the pupils to light.
• Lay the victim in a horizontal position, while the legs should be raised above the level of the head. This action ensures blood flow to the head.
• If a person has been vomiting, it is necessary to lay him on his side.
• Clear the mouth of vomit and prevent the tongue from sinking into the throat.
• Loosen or loosen tight clothing.
• Provide good air access.

If this is a simple fainting, then these actions are enough for the person to come to his senses. If this was not enough, it is necessary to start resuscitation measures.

1. It is necessary to make an external influence on the brain in order to start the whole system. For this, as a rule, use:

• Ammonia.
• Cold water. She can splash her face.
• Light pats on the cheeks.

2. If none of the above measures helped, you should call a doctor.

3. If there is no pulse and breathing, artificial respiration and chest compressions should be immediately started and continued until the ambulance arrives.

After a person comes to his senses, he cannot immediately get up, since the blood supply has not yet been fully restored. There is a danger that fainting will recur. At this point, it is important to talk with the victim, gradually bringing him to his senses, while controlling his condition. What should be paid attention to, we considered earlier.

Prolonged oxygen starvation of the brain will cause irreversible changes in the functioning of the whole organism and can lead to death.

We examined such serious conditions as fainting and loss of consciousness, how they differ from each other, and also tried to explain. Everyone should not only know about this, but also be able to apply their knowledge in an unexpected situation.

Preventive actions

First of all, if you feel that you may pass out, or if this has already happened to you, it is necessary to avoid such situations. Namely:

• Accept in a timely manner medications if there are chronic diseases.
• Do not stay in stuffy rooms.
• Do not bring yourself to excessive fatigue.
• Learn to control yourself in stressful situations.
• Don't go on strict diets.
• It is also not recommended to get out of bed abruptly.
• Avoid overworking in the gym.
• Remember that feeling hungry can also lead to loss of consciousness.

As a prevention of fainting and loss of consciousness, it is recommended to observe the regime of work and rest, exercise moderately, carry out hardening procedures, and eat rationally and in a timely manner. If there are chronic pathologies, then it is necessary to regularly visit a specialist and undergo therapy for ailments.

"Exhaustion" and "weakening" - just like that with Latin translates the word "fainting". Syncope is a short-term loss of consciousness, which can be caused by a temporary violation of blood flow.

Harbingers of fainting

Fainting is a sudden loss of consciousness, however, this condition also has harbingers.

The signs of fainting are:

• General weakness and dizziness;

• Sensation of noise in the head;

• Darkening in the eyes;

• Feeling of emptiness in the head.

Only with a person in an upright position can fainting occur. With severe heart disease or various kinds of severe infections, fainting can occur in a sitting person.

First aid for loss of consciousness: it is important to meet the minute!

Very rarely, fainting occurs suddenly. The forerunners described above in most cases accompany a presyncope state. In this case, a person may still turn pale, he may develop sweating. Only after that comes the relaxation of the muscles and the person loses consciousness. In this case, the precursors may appear 15-60 seconds before fainting. If there is no one next to the person, there is no need to panic. It is necessary to act carefully and quickly in order to minimize backfire fainting.

What is the first aid for fainting?

• The victim must be laid on a flat surface (this can be the floor, table or bench). In this case, the legs should be above the level of the torso and head. This will ensure blood flow to the head.

• It is necessary to ensure the supply of fresh air. If the victim fainted indoors, open the window.

• To prevent vomit from entering the respiratory tract, the victim's head must be turned to the side.

• It is necessary to unfasten all the binding items of clothing (belt, collar).

• The pulse must be checked. If it is poorly palpable, an ambulance is immediately called!

• To bring the victim to himself, it is necessary to let him inhale vapors of ammonia. A swab dipped in ammonia should be brought to the nose no closer than 1-2 cm.

• If alcohol is not at hand, it is necessary to wipe the face of the victim with a damp towel or sprinkle cool water on the face.

It is imperative to call an ambulance in this situation! Even in the case when the victim regained consciousness fairly quickly. After the return of consciousness to a person, it is not recommended to get up immediately. An attempt can be made only after 10-30 minutes. First, the unconscious person must sit down. If your head starts to spin, it's best to lie down again.

These are emergency measures and first aid for loss of consciousness. Stay always healthy!