The main signs of fainting. Fainting, causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment. Fainting factors

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Fainting is a condition characterized by short-term loss of consciousness. It comes as a result of dysfunction of the cerebral circulation, which is of a transient nature. Due to a defect in blood circulation, a diffuse decrease in the metabolic processes of the brain occurs. Fainting, loss of consciousness is the so-called protective reflex of the brain. In the described way, the brain, feeling an acute oxygen deficiency, tries to rectify the situation. Often, dizziness, fainting are signals informing about the presence of a serious illness. There are many pathologies that are accompanied by fainting attacks (for example, myocardial infarction, anemia, aortic stenosis).

Causes of fainting

The condition in question is often a consequence of a pathological process occurring in the body or is a symptom of a certain primary ailment. A huge number of abnormal conditions are distinguished, which are accompanied by loss of consciousness. These include: ailments accompanied by a decrease in cardiac output (heart rhythm disorder, angina attacks, aortic stenosis), defects in the nervous regulation of capillaries (for example, with a rapid change in the position of the body, loss of consciousness may occur), hypoxia.

Dizziness, fainting are the result of a decrease in blood pressure, when the human body could not quickly adapt to changes in hemodynamics (the passage of blood through the capillaries). With a number of ailments, in which there are abnormalities of the heart rhythm, the myocardium, with a decrease in pressure indicators, is not always able to cope with a sharply increased load and quickly increase blood output. The consequence of this will be a feeling of malaise in a person, along with an increase in the oxygen demand of tissues. In this case, fainting, loss of consciousness is caused by physical overexertion and is called the fainting state of tension (effort).

The cause of fainting is the vasodilation of the muscles due to physical exertion. Capillaries, remaining dilated for a certain time after the end of physical effort, contain a lot of blood required to remove metabolic products from muscle tissue. At the same time, the pulse rate falls, therefore, the volume of blood released by the myocardium with each contraction decreases. This is how the blood pressure decreases, causing the loss.

In addition, fainting is often caused by an acute decrease in the amount of circulating blood, which occurs with blood loss or dehydration (for example, with diarrhea, excessive urination, or sweating).

Nerve impulses that affect compensatory processes and are the result of various algias or vivid emotional shocks also often give rise to fainting.

Loss of consciousness is possible during the course of certain physiological processes, such as urination, coughing. This is due to the tension provoking a decrease in the amount of blood leaving the myocardium. With certain pathologies of the esophagus, fainting conditions sometimes appear when swallowing food.

Hyperventilation of the lungs in combination with anemia, a decrease in carbon dioxide or blood sugar levels also often provoke the onset of fainting.

Quite rarely, more often in people of the age category, microstrokes can manifest as loss of consciousness due to a sharp decrease in blood supply in a separate segment of the brain.

Temporary loss of consciousness can be associated with cardiac pathologies, but often it is caused by factors not directly related to abnormalities of this organ. These factors include dehydration, vascular disorders in the limbs in the elderly, pharmacopoeial drugs that affect blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, diabetes.

A decline in the total amount of blood or poor condition of the capillaries of the extremities causes a disproportionate distribution of blood in the legs and a limited supply of blood to the brain when the individual takes a standing position. Other, unconditioned cardiac pathology, causes of transient loss of consciousness include fainting after a number of situational events (cough, urination, bowel movement) or as a result of blood outflow. The condition in question occurs due to a stereotypical reaction of the nervous system, leading to a slowdown in the heart rate and expansion of the capillaries in the lower extremities, which causes a decrease in pressure. The consequence of such a reaction of the body is the ingress of a smaller volume of blood (respectively, and oxygen) into the structures of the brain, since it is concentrated in the extremities.

Cerebral hemorrhages, pre-stroke or migraine-like conditions, also often cause transient loss of consciousness.

Among the factors caused by cardiac pathologies, the following ailments can be distinguished: an abnormality of the heart rhythm (the heartbeat can be too fast or too slow), dysfunction of the heart valves (aortic stenosis), high pressure in the blood capillaries (arteries) that supply the lungs with blood, dissection of the aorta, cardiomyopathy.

You should also distinguish between syncope caused by non-epileptic and epileptic nature. The first one develops due to the above reasons. The second - occurs in persons suffering from epileptic seizures. Its appearance is due to a combination of intracerebral factors, namely the activity of the epileptogenic focus and convulsive activity.

Symptoms of fainting

The attack is usually preceded by a feeling of lightheadedness, nausea. There may also be a shroud or goosebumps, ringing in the ears. Usually fainting has certain precursors, which include sudden weakness, yawning, a feeling of impending fainting. People with certain ailments may have legs that give way before losing consciousness.

The characteristic signs of fainting are as follows: cold sweat, pallor of the integument of the skin, or a slight blush. The pupils are dilated during loss of consciousness. They react slowly to light. The dermis after loss of consciousness becomes ash-gray in color, the pulse is characterized by weak filling, the heart rate can increase or decrease, the muscle tone is reduced, reflex reactions are weak or completely absent.

Signs of fainting last, on average, from two seconds to a minute. When fainting lasts more than four to five minutes, convulsions often occur, there is increased sweating, or spontaneous urination may occur.

When fainting, consciousness is often turned off suddenly. However, sometimes it may be preceded by a semi-faint state, which is manifested by the following symptoms: the presence of tinnitus, acute weakness, yawning, dizziness, a feeling of "vacuum" in the head, numbness of the limbs, nausea, sweating, darkening in the eyes, pallor of the epidermis of the face.

Fainting is most often noted in a standing position, less often in a sitting position. When the individual moves to the supine position, they usually pass.

Upon recovery from an attack in some individuals (mainly with prolonged fainting) for two hours, a post-fainting state may be noted, found in weakness, head algia, increased sweating.

Thus, an attack of fainting can be divided into three phases: pre-syncope, or lipotimia, fainting itself, and post-syncope (post-syncopal stage).

Lipotimia occurs twenty to thirty seconds before loss of consciousness (usually lasts from four to twenty seconds to one and a half minutes). In this state, the individual feels lightheadedness, extraneous sounds in the ears, dizziness, "fog" in the eyes.

Weakness appears, characterized by an increase in manifestations. Legs - like wadded, naughty. The face turns pale, and the epidermis becomes covered with icy sweat. In some individuals, along with the described symptoms, numbness of the tongue, fingertips, yawning, fear or anxiety, lack of air, a lump in the throat may occur.

Often, an attack can be limited only to the described manifestations. In other words, there will be no direct loss of consciousness, especially if the person has time to take a recumbent position. Less commonly, fainting may occur without prior lipotimia (eg, fainting associated with cardiac arrhythmias). The phase in question ends with the feeling of leaving the soil from under the feet.

The next phase is characterized directly by the loss of consciousness. In parallel with the loss of consciousness, the muscle tone of the whole body weakens. Therefore, when fainting, people often sink to the floor, gently "slide" to the surface, and do not fall like decimated, like tin soldiers. If the fainting state occurs unexpectedly, then there is a high probability of getting bruises due to a fall. During the absence of consciousness, the epidermis becomes a pale gray, ashy, often greenish tint, cold to the touch, blood pressure decreases, breathing becomes shallow, the pulse is difficult to palpate, threadlike, all stereotypical reactions (reflexes) decrease, the pupils are dilated, there is a weak reaction to light (pupils do not narrow). If the blood supply to the brain is not restored within twenty seconds, then a spontaneous act of defecation and urination, as well as convulsive twitching, is possible.

The post-syncopal phase lasts for several seconds and ends with a full recovery of consciousness, which returns gradually. First, the visual function "turns on", then the auditory function (the voices of others are heard, sounding in the distance), the feeling of one's own body appears. Time is spent on the described sensations only a few seconds, but the person notes them, as if in slow motion. After the return of consciousness, people are immediately able to orient themselves in their own personality, space and time. In this case, naturally, the first reaction to the fainting that has happened will be a fright, accelerated heartbeat, accelerated breathing, a feeling of weakness, fatigue, less often, unpleasant sensations are observed in the epigastrium. The individual does not remember the second phase of fainting. A person's last memories of a sudden deterioration in well-being.

The severity of the fainting state is established based on the severity of dysfunctions of vital organs and the duration of the phase of loss of consciousness.

Types of fainting

Modern medicine does not have a generally accepted classification of syncope. Below is one of the most rational systematizations, according to most experts. So, the loss of consciousness can be caused by neurogenic, somatogenic or multifactorial etiology, there are also extreme syncope.

Syncope of neurogenic etiology is caused by changes in the nervous structures. The most famous among them are considered reflex, that is, associated with reflex operations of the nervous system. In this case, fainting conditions arise as a result of irritation of individual receptors, as a result of which, with the help of a reflex arc, the parasympathetic system is activated simultaneously with the suppression of its sympathetic part. The result of this is the expansion of peripheral capillaries and a decrease in the frequency of myocardial contractions, as well as a weakening of the total vascular resistance to blood flow, a drop in pressure and a decrease in cardiac output. As a result, blood is retained in the muscles and is not delivered to the brain in the required amount. This type of syncope is the most common.

Fainting occurs due to irritation of the following nerve endings: pain receptors, nerve processes responsible for converting various stimuli into a nerve impulse in the carotid sinus, internal organs, and the vagus nerve.

When shaving, squeezing cervical region a tightly tightened tie irritates the receptors that cause the transformation of stimuli into impulses in the carotid sinus. This condition is called carotid syncope.

Due to severe pain, that is, due to stimulation of pain receptors, fainting also occurs (for example, a rupture of the appendix can provoke a loss of consciousness).

Irritative fainting causes irritation of the nervous structures of the internal organs. So, for example, during the colonoscopy procedure, a person may lose consciousness. Swallowing with certain pathologies of the larynx or esophagus can provoke fainting due to irritation of the vagus nerve tissue.

In addition, syncope of neurogenic origin can be:

Maladaptive, developing as a result of adaptive dysfunction of the body (overheating, intense physical stress);

Dyscirculatory, arising from defects in the regulation of capillary tone in neurological ailments (migraine, cerebral vasculitis);

Orthostatic, due to insufficient sympathetic effect on the capillaries of the lower extremities (may appear due to the use of antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, with dehydration or blood loss);

Associative, formed in conditions reminiscent of past cases with the onset of fainting, are more inherent in creative individuals with a developed imagination;

Emotional, caused by vivid emotional manifestations, which are converted into a stimulus-irritant for the ganglionic nervous system. The condition for the onset of fainting is the hyperreactivity of the autonomic nervous system, in other words, with an adequate tone of the system, loss of consciousness does not occur. Therefore, fainting from this group is more often inherent in persons suffering from neurosis-like states or having a predisposition to hysteria.

Somatogenic syncope is caused by dysfunctions of internal organs. They are divided into: cardiogenic, hypoglycemic, anemic, respiratory.

Cardiogenic syncope is caused by cardiac abnormalities. They appear due to insufficient ejection of blood from the left ventricle. This is observed with arrhythmias or narrowing of the aorta.

Hypoglycemic syncope occurs with a decrease in blood glucose levels. Fainting in this category often accompanies diabetes mellitus, but can also occur in other conditions, for example, during fasting, hypothalamic insufficiency, tumor processes, fructose intolerance.

Fainting is also triggered by low hemoglobin or erythrocyte counts in blood diseases - anemic syncope.

Respiratory - occur with ailments that affect the lungs and are accompanied by a decrease in lung capacity, hyperventilation with a decrease in carbon dioxide. Loss of consciousness is often observed in bronchial asthma, whooping cough, pulmonary emphysema.

Extreme fainting can occur in difficult situations that force the body to mobilize as much as possible. They are:

Hypovolemic, due to severe lack of fluid in the body during blood loss or in conditions of increased sweating;

Hypoxic, associated with oxygen deficiency, for example, when in a mountainous area;

Hyperbaric, due to high pressure breathing;

Intoxication related to body poisoning, for example, alcoholic beverages, carbon monoxide or dyes;

Medicinal or iatrogenic due to overdose of some medicines: tranquilizers, diuretics or antipsychotics, as well as any drugs that lower blood pressure.

Multifactorial syncope occurs due to a combination of etiological factors. For example, there is a type of fainting that occurs during nighttime urination or immediately after it, when a person is in a standing position. In this case, the following etiological factors act in parallel: a decrease in bladder pressure leading to expansion of capillaries, the transition from a lying position to a standing position after sleep. All of these factors combine to cause loss of consciousness. This category of syncope affects mainly men of the age category.

Fainting in children

Most mothers would like to understand why babies faint, what to do if their baby has passed out. The causes of fainting in children are usually strong pain, hunger, various emotional upheavals, prolonged stay in a stuffy room, especially in a standing position, infectious ailments, blood loss, rapid deep breathing. Fainting conditions can also be observed in babies suffering from disorders in the functioning of the ganglionic nervous system. Children with low blood pressure often pass out when they move quickly to an upright position from a prone position. In addition, trauma to the brain can cause fainting.

Some heart ailments also trigger unconsciousness. Complete blockade of the anatomical structures of the heart (myocardial conduction system), atrioventricular block (Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome) are clinically manifested by attacks of fainting and seizures, which are accompanied by cyanosis of the skin or pallor. More often the attack is noted at night. This condition goes away on its own.

Assisting a child with fainting does not require specific skills or special knowledge. In the first turn, the baby should be laid down, the pillow should be removed and the foot end of the bed should be raised about thirty degrees. This position promotes blood flow towards the brain. Then it is necessary to ensure the flow of air (to save the baby from embarrassing clothes, open the window, unfasten the top button). Sharp odors (ammonia, mother's eau de toilette) or other irritants will help the child regain consciousness. You can sprinkle crumbs on your face with cold water or rub his ears. These activities are aimed at increasing capillary tone and improving blood flow.

After the baby regains consciousness, it should not be raised for about ten to twenty minutes. Then you can drink the crumbs with sweet tea.

From the above it can be seen that help with fainting, first of all, consists in improving hemodynamics, which quickly eliminates the symptoms of fainting.

Fainting during pregnancy

The happiest time in the life of girls is the period of pregnancy. But in addition to the positive emotions of expectant mothers, a number of minor troubles lie in wait, among which dizziness and loss of consciousness can be distinguished.

Many women, before deciding to have a baby, are interested in various details related to bearing a fetus. Therefore, the question of why expectant mothers faint is quite popular among women planning a pregnancy.

Fainting during pregnancy is usually due to low blood pressure. A drop in blood pressure is often caused by overwork, stuffiness, hunger, emotional instability, various respiratory ailments, or exacerbations of chronic pathologies.

During the growth of the fetus, the enlarged uterus exerts a pressing effect on the capillaries located nearby, which disrupts normal hemodynamics. Vessels of the limbs, pelvis and back poorly pass blood, especially in the supine position. As a result, pressure may drop.

Also, during pregnancy, the body of expectant mothers undergoes a lot of different physiological changes. One of the physiological transformations is an increase in the amount of circulating blood by about thirty-five percent. Until the female body adapts to the changes, fainting may be observed.

Anemia is a common cause of fainting in pregnant women, as the amount of blood increases only due to an increase in plasma volume. As a result, the blood becomes more rarefied, since the number of red blood cells in it is reduced. This causes a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, therefore - to anemia.

Also, expectant mothers may lose consciousness from a decrease in glucose levels. Due to toxicosis, women can often eat irregularly or inadequately. An improper diet causes a decrease in blood concentration, which leads to fainting.

Hungry fainting

Loss of consciousness caused by hunger is considered relevant for the beautiful part of humanity. After all, it is these cute creatures, in constant attempts to become the most attractive and charming, exhaust their own body with endless diets, hunger strikes, which causes Negative consequences, among which it is necessary to highlight the disorder of coordination of movements, brain trauma, changes in character traits, various bruises.

As the name implies, hungry fainting is the result of a lack of essential nutrients from food in the body. However, this type of fainting occurs not only due to a lack of food.

So, for example, the consumption of exclusively proteins or only carbohydrates (milk diet) can also provoke loss of consciousness. Failure to comply with the required ratio of organic substances causes the lack of production of the required energy supply. As a result, the body has to find internal reserves, which leads to a change in metabolism. The brain tissues do not have internal depots of oxygen and necessary substances, therefore, the deficiency of organic compounds, in the first turn, affects the nerve fibers.

Stressful exposure during a normal diet can also provoke hungry fainting. Because any stress requires excessive energy expenditure and is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. If the resources are insufficient, the so-called disconnection of "unimportant" objects occurs in the body - the blood flow to the digestive organs decreases to provide the brain, myocardium and lungs with the necessary amount of nutrition. With a lack of such nutrition, the brain shuts down, which causes hunger fainting.

Excessive physical exertion also requires an excess of vital nutrients. If an adequate ratio of organic compounds is not observed in the daily diet, or if there is a low concentration of carbohydrates in the food consumed, there is a mismatch between the body's capabilities and its needs. Again, the brain suffers from this first, which provokes loss of consciousness.

Providing assistance for fainting triggered by hunger does not differ from measures for other types of fainting.

Treating fainting

Loss of consciousness therapeutic measures associated with the cause that provoked it. It is because of this that adequate diagnosis is so important.

Urgent care in case of fainting, in the first turn, it involves the restoration of hemodynamics by giving the body a horizontal position. In this case, the foot end must be lifted.

Some types of fainting conditions do not require specific treatment, for example, extreme fainting (it is necessary to eliminate only the situation that caused this condition).

Somatogenic syncope involves treatment of the underlying ailment. So, for example, when detecting cardiac arrhythmias, it is necessary to use antiarrhythmic drugs to normalize the rhythm.

In the treatment of loss of consciousness caused by neurogenic factors, pharmacopoeial drugs and non-drug measures (physical measures) are used. In this case, preference is given to the latter. Patients are taught to avoid situations that can provoke neurogenic syncope, as well as to take timely measures to prevent loss of consciousness when feeling harbingers of fainting.

Physical measures include the following actions. With an approaching fainting state, patients are advised to cross their lower limbs and clench their palms into fists. The essence of the described actions is to provoke an increase in blood pressure sufficient to prevent loss of consciousness or delay it, in order to enable the patient to take a safe horizontal position. For individuals with persistent orthostatic fainting, regular orthostatic exercise is helpful.

Therapy of reflex fainting should be aimed at improving the physical condition, reducing a person's excitability, and correcting autonomic dysfunctions and vascular disorders. It is important to observe the regime and perform daily hygienic gymnastic exercises in the morning.

Doctor of the PsychoMed Medical and Psychological Center

Fainting is a brief lack of consciousness caused by a sudden disturbance of blood circulation in the brain. This is because the brain is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients. Fainting differs from complete fainting in that it lasts on average no longer than five minutes. Disruption of blood flow can be caused by many factors, including various disorders of cardio-vascular system, inflammatory or infectious processes. In addition, often short-term loss of consciousness is observed in girls during the first menstruation. According to statistics, half of the world's population has experienced such a disorder at least once in their life. Doctors say that less than half of all such cases are of an unexplained nature.

Before fainting, many people feel unwell, severe dizziness, and increased sweating. Fainting can be avoided by just sitting down in time, if this is not done, a fall will occur. Usually a person quickly comes to his senses, often without the help of strangers. Quite often, fainting is accompanied by injuries that a person receives directly during a fall. A little less often, a person has short-term, moderate-intensity seizures or urinary incontinence.

Common fainting is to be distinguished from epileptic fainting, although it can also be caused by some factors related to short-term loss of consciousness, for example, menstruation in women or the phase of sleep. With epileptic fainting, a person immediately experiences intense convulsions.

Etiology

There are several reasons why people faint, but despite this, in almost half of cases, it is not possible to determine the cause of such a disorder. Sources of insufficient blood flow to the brain include:

disorders of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system;
a sharp increase in intracranial pressure;
intoxications caused by gas poisoning, nicotine, alcoholic beverages, household chemicals, plant care products, etc .;
strong emotional swings;
a sudden drop in blood pressure;
lack of glucose in the body;
insufficient amount of hemoglobin;
air pollution;
change in body position. Loss of consciousness occurs with a sharp rise to his feet from a lying or sitting position;
specific effects on the human body, including prolonged exposure to hot temperatures or high atmospheric pressure;
age category - in adults, fainting can occur when urinating or diarrhea, in adolescents, in particular in girls, fainting occurs during menstruation, and in older people, loss of consciousness can occur during sleep.

According to statistics, it is women who often faint, since they are most susceptible to changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure. Very often, following their figure, female representatives follow strict diets or refuse to eat at all, which leads to hungry fainting.

The causes of fainting in children and adolescents occur in the following cases:

from intense fear or excitement, for example, when performing in front of a crowded audience or visiting the dentist;
with overwork from physical exertion or mental activity;
associated with injuries and, as a result, with severe pain. This mainly happens with fractures;
at the first onset of menstruation, girls are often accompanied by severe dizziness, lack of air, leading to fainting;
the frequent extreme situations that so much attract young girls and guys;
from prolonged fasting or strict diets.

Suddenly fainting a few minutes after a night's sleep, this may be due to excessive drinking the day before, or due to the fact that the brain is not fully awake. In addition, in women over fifty, fainting can cause a condition such as, that is, the cessation of menstruation.

Varieties

Depending on the factors influencing the occurrence, the following types of syncope are distinguished:

neurogenic, which, in turn, are:

vasodepressor - arising against the background of emotional changes, stressful situations. Very often it manifests itself at the sight of blood in especially impressionable people;
orthostatic - expressed due to a sharp change in body position or taking certain medications. This group includes loss of consciousness from wearing tight or uncomfortable clothing, in particular tight collars of outerwear, as well as fainting in men and women who experience urinary incontinence during sleep, coughing, or when passing feces;
maladaptive - arise due to non-adaptation to environmental conditions, for example, in a too hot or cold climate;

hyperventilation direction- appear from severe fear or panic;
somatogenic- the causes of which directly depend on disorders of the functioning of internal organs, with the exception of the brain. Distinguish between cardiogenic syncope - arising from pathologies of the heart, anemic - developing due to a low level and, as well as hypoglycemic - associated with a lack of glucose in the blood;
extreme nature which are:

hypoxic, caused by a lack of oxygen in the air;
hypovolemic - appearing as a result of profuse blood loss, menstruation, extensive burns;
intoxicated - developing due to various poisonings;
medication - taking medications that lower blood pressure;
hyperbaric - the factor of occurrence is high atmospheric pressure.

Symptoms

The appearance of such a disturbance of consciousness is preceded by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations. Thus, the symptoms of fainting are:

a sharp appearance of weakness;
noise in ears;
strong throbbing in the temples;
heaviness in the back of the head;
decreased visual acuity;
pallor of the skin, often the appearance of a gray tint;
the appearance of nausea;
abdominal cramps precede loss of consciousness during menstruation;
excessive sweating.

The pulse of a person who has fainted is weakly felt, the pupils practically do not react to light.

This condition very rarely lasts more than five minutes, but in cases where it takes longer, fainting with convulsions and is observed. Thus, short-term loss of consciousness becomes deep fainting. In addition, some people fall into the rent with their eyes open, in which case the best solution would be to cover them with a hand or cloth so that they do not become dry. After fainting, a person feels drowsiness, slight dizziness, and confusion. Such sensations go away on their own, but nevertheless, the victim needs to see a doctor, especially if he was injured during the fall.

Diagnostics

Despite the fact that fainting often goes away on its own, it is necessary to diagnose and treat it, because this condition is often a symptom of various diseases that may threaten a person's health and life. In addition, it is not always clear why fainting occurs, and diagnostics will help determine the causes of the appearance.

The first stage of diagnosis consists of identifying possible pronounced causes of fainting, for example, menstruation, working conditions, sleep phase, poisoning, or environmental pollution. The doctor needs to find out if the patient has taken any medications, and if there has been an overdose.

Next, it is necessary to examine the patient, while symptoms will not always be identified. If a person is taken to a medical facility immediately after fainting, he will experience lethargy and slow reaction, as if after sleep, answers to any questions will be delayed. In addition, the doctor cannot help but notice an increased heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure.

Then the patient needs to take a blood test, which will confirm or deny the lack of glucose, erythrocytes and hemoglobin.

Hardware diagnostics consists of examinations of various internal organs, since it is not always clear why fainting appears, and if the problem lies in the malfunctioning of one or more internal organs, then radiography, ultrasound, ECG, MRI and other methods will help detect this.

In addition, you may need additional consultations from a cardiologist - if heart problems were found, a gynecologist - if you lose consciousness during your period, and a specialist such as a neurologist.

Treatment

Before contacting specialists who will conduct proper therapy, the first step is to provide the victim with first aid. Therefore, a person who is nearby at such a moment should know what to do in case of fainting. First aid methods are to carry out such activities.

Fainting also called syncope (this word comes from the Latin word syncope, which, in fact, is translated as "fainting"). The definition of fainting sounds like this: it is an attack of loss of consciousness for a short time, associated with a temporarily disturbed cerebral blood flow, in which a person loses the ability to maintain an upright position. ICD-10 code - R55 fainting (syncope) and collapse.

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

However, unconsciousness is not always fainting. The difference between fainting and loss of consciousness is that unconsciousness can develop not only due to a deterioration in the blood supply to the brain, but also due to other reasons.

You can talk about fainting in the following cases:

The man completely lost consciousness.
This state happened suddenly and quickly disappeared.
Consciousness returned on its own and without consequences.
The patient could not maintain an upright body position.

If even one of these points does not correspond to what happened, it is important to conduct an examination to determine the reason for the fainting.

Syncope conditions, which are characterized by one or two of the points described above, are sometimes mistakenly considered fainting. The state of syncope can be accompanied by severe manifestations: metabolic disorders, intoxication, cataplexy, etc. In the description, which indicates the code for the ICD-10 syncope, a number of manifestations are noted that have similar symptoms, but are not syncope.

Pathogenesis

The basis of the pathogenesis of syncope is transient cerebral hypoperfusion developing suddenly. Normal indicators of cerebral blood flow are 50-60 ml / 100 g of tissue per minute. A sharp decrease in cerebral blood flow to 20 ml / 100 g of tissue per minute and a decrease in the level of blood oxygenation leads to the development of syncope. If cerebral blood flow stops abruptly for 6-8 seconds, it leads to complete loss of consciousness.

The mechanisms for the development of this phenomenon can be as follows:

There is a reflex decrease in the tone of the arteries or the work of the heart is disrupted, which leads to a deterioration in blood flow.
Heart rhythm is disturbed - it happens abruptly , bradycardia , episodic cardiac arrest is noted.
The development of changes in the heart, due to which blood flow is disturbed inside the heart chambers.
The systemic level - syncope develops with a sharp decrease in the level of systolic blood pressure.
In older people, this is often associated with a narrowing of the blood vessels that feed the brain, as well as heart disease.
In young patients, fainting is most often associated with dysfunction of the central nervous system or mental disorders - the so-called reflex syncope .

Consequently, the development of such a condition due to various reasons is due to different mechanisms of manifestation of impaired cerebral circulation. Summarizing, the following mechanisms can be distinguished:

Decrease or loss of vascular tone.
Decreased flow of venous blood to the heart.
Decrease in the volume of blood circulating in the body.
Insufficient release of blood by the left or right ventricle of the heart into one of the circulatory circuits, which leads to impaired cerebral blood flow.

Taking into account the pathophysiological mechanisms, the following types of syncope are distinguished.

Neurogenic

The most frequently developed variety. In most cases, they are not associated with serious diseases, and do not pose a danger to humans. The so-called essential syncope sometimes occurs in healthy people, and their causes remain unknown. However, as a rule, they develop in too emotional individuals against the background of the psychovegetative syndrome. They are associated with a violation of the neuro-humoral regulation of the cardiovascular system, which develops due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

In turn, there are several types of this type of syncope:

Vasodepressor or vasovagal syncope - this condition develops most often, in about 40% of cases. This is due to a transient failure of autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system. Vasovagal syncope begins with an increase in sympathetic NA tone. This increases blood pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance. Further, the tone of the vagus nerve increases, which leads to hypotension. It develops as the body's response to stress. It can be provoked by a number of reasons - fatigue, alcohol consumption, overheating, etc.
Orthostatic - Syncope of this type develops mainly in the elderly, in whom the volume of circulating blood does not correspond to the instability of vasomotor function. In addition, many people in old age take drugs to lower blood pressure, vasodilators, antiparkinsonian drugs, which can lead to the development of orthostatic syncope. It develops when a person very quickly goes from horizontal to vertical position.
Hypovolemic - develops when a person loses a lot of blood, with dehydration (severe vomiting, diarrhea, dry fasting). It leads to hypotension , decreased venous return to the heart, ineffective cerebral blood flow.
Sinokaratodny - develops if a person has a high sensitivity of the carotid sinus. It most often occurs in older men with hypertension. Such syncope can be associated with irritation of the carotid sinus when turning the head, wearing tight ties, etc.
Situational - occurs in stereotypical situations - coughing, swallowing, eating, etc. It is associated with high sensitivity of the vagus nerve, reflex reactions to irritation and pain.
Hyperventilating - a consequence of excessive breathing.

Cardiogenic

This type of loss of consciousness is diagnosed in about 20% of cases. It develops due to "cardiac" reasons - a decrease in the output of the heart, which develops as a result of a decrease in heart rate or stroke volume of the heart. Occurs in diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They are divided into fainting during and due to obstructive processes in the left half of the heart. In turn, arrhythmogenic syncope is subdivided into:

Bradyarrhythmic - syncope conditions develop with a sharp decrease in heart rate to below 20 beats per minute or with asystole lasting longer than 5-10 s.
Tachyarrhythmic - develop with a sudden increase in heart rate to more than 200 per minute.

Cerebrovascular

Consequence of cerebrovascular diseases with stenosing lesions of the main arteries, metabolic disorders, the use of certain drugs. In addition, this type of loss of consciousness can be associated with transient ischemic attacks, which occurs most often in the elderly.

Also stand out non-syncopal forms of short-term loss of consciousness ... In some forms of epilepsy, a brief loss of consciousness occurs when a person loses normal motor control, causing them to collapse. However, a short-term loss of consciousness for a few seconds is a condition that can be associated with the reasons described above.

Taking into account the rate of development and duration, the following types of disorders of consciousness are distinguished:

Sudden and short-term (loss of consciousness for a few seconds).
Sharp and prolonged (for several minutes, hours or days);
Gradual and long-term (for a period of several days);
With an unknown beginning and duration.

Causes of fainting

The reasons for loss of consciousness are associated with various diseases and conditions of the body. So, a sudden loss of consciousness can be associated with diseases of various body systems - nervous, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, as well as with other phenomena - medication, excessive physical exertion, overheating, etc.

Speaking about what causes them to faint, the following groups of reasons can be distinguished:

"Benign", that is, not associated with serious problems. When answering the question of what can cause you to faint, you should not discount some of the natural causes leading to a short-term cessation of oxygen supply to the brain. A similar thing, for example, can happen if a person stands for a long time or lies in a forced position, rises sharply from a lying position or unbends. Frequent fainting due to this cause is characteristic of some pregnant women, the elderly, patients with varicose veins and atherosclerosis.
Associated with hypotension. People with low blood pressure often faint compared to those with normal blood pressure. Fainting is highly likely to develop in those who suffer from vegetative dystonia, due to which the regulatory vascular mechanisms are disrupted. In such people, the impetus for the development of syncope can be severe stress, sharp pain, etc.
As a consequence of problems with cervical spine . With osteochondrosis of this part of the spine, venous outflow and blood supply to the brain are disturbed. Sudden fainting in this case is possible due to sharp turns of the head or pinching of the neck.
The consequence of a violation of the heart rhythm. The answers to the question of why they faint can be more serious. One of these reasons is arrhythmia, in which the rhythm, frequency or sequence of heartbeats is disturbed. This can happen with high blood pressure as a result of tachycardia. In this case, it is important to consult a doctor so that he can determine if the loss of consciousness is the symptoms of which disease. In people with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, loss of consciousness is a symptom that requires an immediate visit to a specialist.
Pulmonary embolism. This is a very serious condition in which pulmonary artery clogged with a blood clot that has come off the walls of the vessels of the lower extremities.
. The causes of fainting in women may be related to pregnancy. Often, expectant mothers show hypotension due to hormonal changes in the body or, conversely, an increase in pressure due to impaired blood flow. Physiological changes in the body can also lead to loss of consciousness in women. As the unborn baby grows, the amount of blood circulating in the woman's body increases, and while he adapts to such changes, this can lead to fainting. Perhaps this is due to the manifestation in different semesters of pregnancy. In girls, syncope due to restructuring of the body can manifest itself during puberty.
Powerful emotions. In both men and women with psychovegetative instability, syncope can occur with severe stress, nervous shock and an overabundance of emotions. In this case, the answer to the question of how to cause fainting is simple. A receptive person can bring himself to such a state with elementary things for others, since, for example, the sight of blood or an emotional quarrel can provoke syncope in them. In this case, a person can experience the “As if I’m fainting” state for a short period, after which syncope occurs. How to prevent fainting in this case, you should ask your doctor.
The development of neoplasms in the brain. In this condition, the patient's tumor compresses the vessels and nerve endings, as a result of which fainting occurs with convulsions, and such attacks are repeated quite often. This is a very alarming syndrome that should be consulted immediately with a doctor.
... The causes of loss of consciousness and seizures can also be associated with epilepsy. In this case, episodes of loss of consciousness and seizures appear suddenly. Although seizures can occur without seizures. So-called minor epileptic seizure - This is a condition when loss of consciousness with open eyes is noted. It lasts for several seconds, while the patient's face turns pale, and the gaze is focused at one point. The disease requires complex treatment that will help reduce the number and frequency of attacks.

In addition, if an adult or child faints, the reasons may be as follows:

Receiving a number drugs- antidepressants, nitrates, etc.
Poisoning, alcohol, carbon monoxide.
Bleeding - uterine, gastrointestinal, etc.
Neuroinfection.
Hepatic and.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Metabolic disorders.
Neurological diseases.

Very often, syncope occurs suddenly. But sometimes signs of fainting can be noticed in a timely manner and the loss of consciousness can be prevented. With a light-headed state, the following symptoms appear:

too much sweating;
impending nausea;
blanching of the skin;
and a sharp manifestation of severe weakness;
darkening in the eyes, the appearance of "flies" before the eyes;
noise in ears;
frequent yawning;
numbness of the arms and legs.

If such symptoms are noticed in a timely manner and immediately sit or lie down, then the blood in the vessels will quickly redistribute, the pressure in them will decrease, and syncope can be prevented. If the fainting does occur, then the person, at least, will protect himself from falling.

Directly signs of fainting in humans are manifested as follows:

The limbs get cold.
The pulse slows down.
Pupils dilate or constrict.
The pressure drops.
The skin turns pale.
The person breathes intermittently and at a lower frequency than usual.
The muscles relax sharply.
With prolonged syncope, the muscles of the face and trunk may twitch.
Possibly severe saliva production and dry mouth.

This state does not last long - from a few seconds to 1-2 minutes. At the same time, breathing and heartbeat do not stop, involuntary urination and defecation do not occur, and there is no urge to vomit.

Symptoms of hunger fainting, which are caused by a lack of nutrients in the body, are similar. Hunger fainting occurs in those who practice very strict diets or prolonged fasting. Such symptoms indicate that nutrition must be immediately adjusted, since a hungry fainting is evidence of a deficiency in the body of substances important for its functioning.

Analyzes and diagnostics

To determine why a person is losing consciousness, the doctor takes the following steps:

Performs an initial condition assessment. For this, anamnesis is collected or, if necessary, a survey of eyewitnesses. It is important to find out if there has actually been an episode of loss of consciousness or multiple fainting spells.
Takes into account the likelihood of psychogenic attacks or epileptic seizures and carries out differential diagnostics.
Assigns the necessary examinations.

In the process of diagnostics, if necessary, the following methods are practiced:

Physical research.
Electrocardiogram.
24-hour ECG monitoring.
Ultrasound to determine structural changes in the heart.
Orthostatic test.
Clinical stress test to determine the myocardium.
Coronary angiography.
Blood test with determination of hematocrit, level, oxygen saturation, troponin level, etc.

If necessary, appoint other studies and laboratory tests.

Treatment

The essence of the treatment of this condition consists in stopping the fainting itself and treating the underlying disease that provoked this symptom.

To remove a person from a state of syncope, ammonia was widely used for many years, inhaling the vapors of which returned the patient to consciousness. The pungent smell of the drug reflexively stimulates the nervous system. For this purpose, you can use perfumes with a pungent smell.

When choosing therapies for patients with syncope, it is important to consider the following principles:

Therapy is prescribed taking into account the mechanisms of development of loss of consciousness.
Often, treatment to prevent recurrence of this manifestation differs from the method of treating the underlying disease.
In some cases, it is necessary to cancel or reduce the dosage of antihypertensive drugs.

The doctors

Medications

The doctor selects the complex of pharmacological agents for treatment individually, taking into account the diagnosis and individual characteristics of the organism.

Fludrocortisone - the drug counteracts the physiological cascade, which provokes the orthostatic vasovagal reflex. The drug is also prescribed Mineralocorticoid .
Etilephrine , Midodrin - used for vasoconstriction of peripheral vessels with reflex fainting.
- reduces long asystolic pauses.
, Reboxetine - selectively increase sympathetic tone during stress if the patient does not have sympathetic activity and production with orthostatic vasovagal syncope.
Also prescribed beta-blockers (,), centrally acting drugs (, Fluoxetine ), vagolytic drugs ( Disopyramide ).
Patients who are suffering are prescribed anticonvulsants.

Procedures and operations

If vasovagal syncope recurs frequently, it is recommended to increase the amount of fluid and salt consumed.

People prone to reflex fainting are trained to recognize the signs of light-headedness and take steps to prevent loss of consciousness. They are also advised to change their lifestyle, to avoid the influence of provoking factors.

In some cases, no special treatment is required.

In general, the choice of treatment tactics depends on what kind of problem is the cause of the impairment of consciousness.

Treatment with folk remedies

Application of some folk remedies helps to reduce the frequency of syncope. However, these methods are not methods of treating the causes of loss of consciousness, but only auxiliary methods to improve the condition.

Gentian decoction. To prepare a decoction of this herb, you need to take 2 tsp. chopped raw materials and pour 1 tbsp. boiling water. Drink half a glass before each meal.
Burdock compresses. A fresh burdock leaf should be kneaded and placed on the solar plexus. The compress helps to recover from a fainting state.
Soothing tea. It helps if a person loses consciousness due to dysfunctions of the nervous system. For its preparation, you can take mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort, linden in equal proportions, mix the crushed raw materials, and 2 tbsp. l. pour 2 glasses of boiling water. After 20 minutes, strain and drink 1 glass 2 times a day.
Wormwood oil. Grind 25 g of wormwood seeds in a coffee grinder and pour in 100 g of olive oil. After a day, pour into a dark glass jar and store the product in the refrigerator. Take 2 drops 2 times a day (drip on sugar).
Infusion of mountain arnica. 3 tbsp. l. Pour dry arnica flowers into a thermos and pour 200 g of boiling water. After an hour, drain and drink with milk 4 times a day, adding 1 tbsp to 100 g of milk. l. infusion.
Means for normalizing blood circulation. If loss of consciousness does occur, then after that the person should be given a glass of warm tea or a decoction of chamomile. Coffee or 1 tbsp is also suitable. l. cognac to normalize blood circulation.
Massage of special points. In case of a fainting state, the massage of the points above the upper lip and below the lower lip will help to bring the patient to life. You need to press on them hard, as the sharp pain helps to improve blood circulation in the brain. Also for this purpose, you can rub the skin in the stomach area.
Cold water. It is sprayed on someone who has lost consciousness. It is especially important to do this if overheating is the cause of the syncope. Cooling of the limbs is recommended. Also, a person who has come to himself should drink some cold water in small sips.

Everyone should know how to provide first aid for fainting, since such cases can occur in different situations. The correct sequence of first aid actions in case of fainting is very important, since adequate first aid will help to avoid more serious problems.

The algorithm of actions with the help of which the provision of emergency care for fainting and loss of consciousness is carried out should be as follows:

If a person fainted, then those who are nearby must first put him down so that his legs are above the level of the head and body. Such first aid is practiced if the patient is breathing and his pulse can be felt.
Further, the PMP consists in quickly unbuttoning those clothes that are squeezing the body. We are talking about a belt, collar, bra.
On a person's forehead, you need to put a wet cold towel or just moisten his face with water. Such actions in case of loss of consciousness will help to narrow blood vessels and restore cerebral blood flow.
To the victim's nose, you need to bring ammonia or cologne with a strong smell.
If the victim vomits, his body must be put in a safe position so that he does not choke, or simply turn his head to the side. Sitting on your side will help prevent blockages respiratory tract since syncope can cause relaxation of the tongue.
Provided that a person is unconscious for several minutes, he needs medical emergency help. In this case, most likely, we are not talking about the usual fainting.
You can not give a person and other medicines.

It is important not only to correctly provide first aid for fainting, but also to provide the first medical care after the victim came to his senses. What to do after fainting depends on how the patient feels. If he does feel dizzy or other unpleasant symptoms, he should be left with his legs raised. It is worth preparing hot tea or coffee for the victim. Chamomile tea is also suitable. When the patient feels better, you need to help him to get up, doing it slowly and gradually.

Despite the fact that adequate first aid in case of loss of consciousness helps the victim recover quickly, nevertheless, if such episodes are often repeated, it is imperative to visit a doctor. Indeed, only in the case of determining the cause of such manifestations, it is possible to say exactly what to do in case of fainting and how to cure the cause that provokes it.

Prophylaxis

In order to prevent loss of consciousness, the following prevention rules should be followed:

Drink plenty of fluids.
Do not drink alcohol during the hot season.
Hypertensive patients need to choose the right means for treatment, visiting a doctor, and adequately adjust their amount.
Do not stay in an upright position for a long time. If there is such a need, you need to shift from foot to foot all the time, straining your muscles.
If there is a feeling that loss of consciousness is about to occur, you should immediately sit or lie down to help the distribution of blood throughout the body, or at least prevent a fall. If there is no way to lie down, it is worth crossing your arms and legs, straining your muscles at the same time.
Avoid the influence of factors that provoke fainting. We are talking about dehydration, wearing tight clothes, overheating, strong emotional shocks, etc.
Visit a doctor in a timely manner in order to diagnose the development of diseases in time. It is important to treat the ailments that provoke syncope correctly and on time.
It is better to sleep in a position where the head is raised. An additional pillow is suitable for this.
Compression stockings should be worn by people with vascular problems.
It is necessary to practice adequate physical activity and eat properly.

Fainting in women

The causes of loss of consciousness in women can be associated with the following problems:

Internal as a result of diseases of the genitourinary system.
Too strict food restrictions and starvation.
Pregnancy.
Too strong emotional upheaval.

It is advisable to consult a doctor if a woman suddenly fainted. The causes of syncope in girls and women are usually harmless. But nevertheless, the development of serious diseases should be excluded.

If a child faints, the causes of this phenomenon can be associated with both diseases and age-related changes. Most often, syncope occurs in adolescents, since during this period the process of puberty is actively taking place, which leads to changes in the body. As noted by experts studying syncope in children, girls are more susceptible to fainting. Most often, such manifestations are observed in children aged 10-12 years. Young children very rarely lose consciousness.

Despite the fact that such a phenomenon can be temporary, if a teenager faints often, the reasons must be determined by a specialist by conducting a study. It is important to find out if a child who often faints is suffering from epilepsy or other serious illnesses. In most cases, we are talking about the reflex nature of such conditions in children. Potential health risks are relatively rare. Still, it is better to consult a doctor and follow his advice.

Fainting during pregnancy

This condition can be one of the signs of pregnancy. Dizziness and fainting during pregnancy early dates can occur as early as a few weeks after conception and be the reason for the test.

The answer to the question of why pregnant women faint are the changes that occur in the female body from the first days of pregnancy. Loss of consciousness during pregnancy occurs due to a sharp decrease blood pressure provoked by hormonal shifts. Most often, fainting during pregnancy manifests itself in women suffering from hypotension .

Various factors can lead to a drop in pressure during the period of carrying a baby - severe stress, exacerbation chronic diseases, colds, overwork. Also, the cause of loss of consciousness can be a sharp drop in blood sugar, which occurs due to improper nutrition or malnutrition.

If such a phenomenon occurs once, it should not cause much concern to the expectant mother. But with a systematic manifestation of syncope, you must definitely tell your doctor about it.

To avoid such unpleasant manifestations, the expectant mother should follow some important rules:

Do not stay too long in places where it is very hot and stuffy, do not ride in public transport in the heat.
Do not starve: nutrition must be correct, you need to eat often and in small quantities.
Do not get up abruptly from a sitting or lying position - this must be done slowly and smoothly.
Walk more in the fresh air and get enough sleep.
Do not remain alone if there is a tendency to dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Diet

Food for people prone to fainting should be complete and varied. To choose correct diet, first of all, it is necessary to find out the reason for such manifestations. The diet is formed depending on the presence or absence of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, etc. The basic rules of nutrition should be as follows:

The menu should be dominated by fresh and properly processed products.
Nutrition should be varied in order to provide the body with the necessary trace elements and.
It is better to take food 5-6 times a day in small portions to prevent the feeling of severe hunger.
If the condition of the body allows, as many vegetables and fruits as possible should be introduced into the diet.
The correct drinking regimen is necessary, because dehydration can also cause fainting.

If a person develops reflex fainting, they should stick to the principles.

Consequences and complications

The consequences of such a condition depend on what are the reasons for its occurrence. The most serious consequences can be as follows:

Development coma and cerebral edema , which leads to disorders of vital functions.
Suffocation due to sinking of the tongue in an unconscious state.
Various injuries sustained during the fall.

With the frequent manifestation of such a condition, a person sometimes has to change the type of activity.

Forecast

According to medical statistics, in about 93% of cases, benign syncope occurs with a favorable prognosis, which does not require drug treatment.

An unfavorable prognosis is observed in those patients in whom fainting provokes cardiovascular diseases ... These people are at risk of death due to heart problems. The risk factors for sudden death in patients with syncope are as follows:

Over 45 years old.
Ventricular arrhythmias .
Heart failure .
The presence of pathological changes on the ECG, which indicate arrhythmogenic disorders.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy .
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

List of sources

Bova A.A. Syncope conditions in clinical practice: study guide. allowance. - Minsk: Asobny, 2009 .-- 45 p.
Vegetative disorders: Clinic, treatment, diagnosis / ed. A.M. Wayne. - M., 1998 .-- 752 p.
Guseva I.A., Bondareva Z.G., Miller O.N. Causes of syncope in young people // Ros. cardiology journal. - 2003. - No. 3. - S. 25-28.
Stykan O.A. Akimova G.A. Differential diagnosis of nervous diseases: a guide for physicians. - SPb .: Hippocrates, 2000 .-- S. 132-177.

Acute thrombosis, embolism or rupture of blood vessels cause ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, which can begin with loss of consciousness. At the same time, loss of consciousness is more prolonged and deeper than fainting. She can easily go into a coma.

Epilepsy accompanied by impaired consciousness (for example, atonic seizures) is also not quite fainting. At the heart of 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 disturbances in neurocytes.

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

If the measures carried out with ordinary fainting are ineffective in the first two minutes, an ambulance must be called immediately, which can provide specialized assistance and take the patient to a hospital for treatment and clarify the reasons for the loss of consciousness.

The condition in question is often a consequence of a pathological process occurring in the body or is a symptom of a certain primary ailment. A huge number of abnormal conditions are distinguished, which are accompanied by loss of consciousness. These include: ailments accompanied by a decrease in cardiac output (heart rhythm disorder, angina attacks, aortic stenosis), defects in the nervous regulation of capillaries (for example, with a rapid change in the position of the body, loss of consciousness may occur), hypoxia.

Nerve impulses that affect compensatory processes and are the result of various algias or vivid emotional shocks also often give rise to fainting.

Loss of consciousness is possible during the course of certain physiological processes, such as urination, coughing. This is due to the tension provoking a decrease in the amount of blood leaving the myocardium. With certain pathologies of the esophagus, fainting conditions sometimes appear when swallowing food.

Hyperventilation of the lungs in combination with anemia, a decrease in carbon dioxide or blood sugar levels also often provoke the onset of fainting.

Quite rarely, more often in people of the age category, microstrokes can manifest as loss of consciousness due to a sharp decrease in blood supply in a separate segment of the brain.

The condition in question occurs due to a stereotypical reaction of the nervous system, leading to a slowdown in the heart rate and expansion of the capillaries in the lower extremities, which causes a decrease in pressure. The consequence of such a reaction of the body is the ingress of a smaller volume of blood (respectively, and oxygen) into the structures of the brain, since it is concentrated in the extremities.

Cerebral hemorrhages, pre-stroke or migraine-like conditions, also often cause transient loss of consciousness.

You should also distinguish between syncope caused by non-epileptic and epileptic nature. The first one develops due to the above reasons. The second - occurs in persons suffering from epileptic seizures. Its appearance is due to a combination of intracerebral factors, namely the activity of the epileptogenic focus and convulsive activity.

Symptoms of fainting

An attack of loss of consciousness is usually preceded by a feeling of lightheadedness, nausea. There may also be a shroud or goosebumps, ringing in the ears. Usually fainting has certain precursors, which include sudden weakness, yawning, a feeling of impending fainting. People with certain ailments may have legs that give way before losing consciousness.

Fainting is most often noted in a standing position, less often in a sitting position. When the individual moves to the supine position, they usually pass.

Upon recovery from an attack in some individuals (mainly with prolonged fainting) for two hours, a post-fainting state may be noted, found in weakness, head algia, increased sweating.

Thus, an attack of fainting can be divided into three phases: pre-syncope, or lipotimia, fainting itself, and post-syncope (post-syncopal stage).

During the absence of consciousness, the epidermis becomes a pale gray, ashy, often greenish tint, cold to the touch, blood pressure decreases, breathing becomes shallow, the pulse is difficult to palpate, threadlike, all stereotypical reactions (reflexes) decrease, the pupils are dilated, there is a weak reaction to light (pupils do not narrow).

After the return of consciousness, people are immediately able to orient themselves in their own personality, space and time. At the same time, naturally, the first reaction to the fainting that has happened will be fright, accelerated heart rate, accelerated breathing, a feeling of weakness, fatigue, less often, unpleasant sensations are observed in the epigastrium. The individual does not remember the second phase of fainting. A person's last memories of a sudden deterioration in well-being.

The severity of the fainting state is established based on the severity of dysfunctions of vital organs and the duration of the phase of loss of consciousness.

Fainting often occurs suddenly, but sometimes visible changes in the body occur shortly before losing consciousness. If you notice this in time and take the right measures, then the occurrence of this condition can be avoided.

A light-headed state is characterized by a number of symptoms:

increased sweat separation;
a feeling of nausea;
dizziness;
blanching skin;
a feeling of darkening in the eyes;
severe and severe weakness;
tinnitus;
frequent yawning;
numbness of the arms and legs.

After fainting, confusion is observed in most cases, but this is a short-term phenomenon. Fainting is not accompanied by cessation of breathing or heartbeat, involuntary urination, defecation, and vomiting.

During fainting, the following changes occur:

cold hands and feet;
slowing down the heart rate;
pupils are well sensitive to light, but can be narrowed or, conversely, dilated;
decrease in pressure;
blanching of the skin;
breathing becomes shallow and more rare than in ordinary life;
sometimes there is increased salivation or dry mouth.

The duration of fainting may be several seconds, but no more than 2-3 minutes. The recumbent position will improve the blood supply to the brain and help the person recover from this state as quickly as possible.

During fainting, the muscles are relaxed, the body is motionless.
Pupils are dilated and do not react to light, pulse is rare and shallow, breathing is reduced, blood pressure is lowered.
During deep fainting, involuntary urination and muscle cramps may develop.

Classification of syncope

All syncope is divided into three large groups depending on the basic conditions of occurrence.

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

Fainting in children

Most mothers would like to understand why babies faint, what to do if their baby has passed out. The causes of fainting in children are usually severe pain, hunger, various emotional upheavals, prolonged stay in a stuffy room, especially in a standing position, infectious ailments, blood loss, rapid deep breathing.

Fainting conditions can also be observed in babies suffering from disorders in the functioning of the ganglionic nervous system. Children with low blood pressure often pass out when they move quickly to an upright position from a prone position. In addition, trauma to the brain can cause fainting.

Some heart ailments also trigger unconsciousness. Complete blockade of the anatomical structures of the heart (myocardial conduction system), atrioventricular block (Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome) are clinically manifested by attacks of fainting and seizures, which are accompanied by cyanosis of the skin or pallor. More often the attack is noted at night. This condition goes away on its own.

After the baby regains consciousness, it should not be raised for about ten to twenty minutes. Then you can drink the crumbs with sweet tea.

From the above it can be seen that help with fainting, first of all, consists in improving hemodynamics, which quickly eliminates the symptoms of fainting.

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 a reason to be examined by a pediatrician and a neurologist. Behind the completely harmless short-term loss of consciousness in a child, formidable diseases of the nervous system or blood can be hidden.

Fainting during pregnancy

The happiest time in the life of girls is the period of pregnancy. But in addition to the positive emotions of expectant mothers, a number of minor troubles lie in wait, among which dizziness and loss of consciousness can be distinguished.

Also, during pregnancy, the body of expectant mothers undergoes a lot of different physiological changes. One of the physiological transformations is an increase in the amount of circulating blood by about thirty-five percent. Until the female body adapts to the changes, fainting may be observed.

Hungry fainting

Loss of consciousness caused by hunger is considered relevant for the beautiful part of humanity. After all, it is these cute creatures, in constant attempts to become the most attractive and charming, exhaust their own body with endless diets, hunger strikes, which causes negative consequences, among which one should highlight the disorder of coordination of movements, brain injuries, changes in character traits, memory, various bruises.

As the name implies, hungry fainting is the result of a lack of essential nutrients from food in the body. However, this type of fainting occurs not only due to a lack of food.

Providing assistance for fainting triggered by hunger does not differ from measures for other types of fainting.

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 out by the fetus strongly presses not only on internal organs, provoking venous stasis, but also on the inferior vena cava, worsening 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, it is not recommended:

lean forward and down independently
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 terms of the frequency of syncope in pregnant women are anemia (see pregnancy and low hemoglobin). During gestation, iron is unnecessarily spent on the growth of the unborn baby and depletes the mother's blood as the main oxygen carrier - hemoglobin. After birth bleeding, anemia can not only persist, but also increase.

Treating fainting

With a loss of consciousness, therapeutic measures are associated with the cause that provoked it. It is because of this that adequate diagnosis is so important.

Emergency care for fainting, in the first turn, involves the restoration of hemodynamics by giving the body a horizontal position. In this case, the foot end must be lifted.

Some types of fainting conditions do not require specific treatment, for example, extreme fainting (it is necessary to eliminate only the situation that caused this condition).

Somatogenic syncope involves treatment of the underlying ailment. So, for example, when detecting cardiac arrhythmias, it is necessary to use antiarrhythmic drugs to normalize the rhythm.

Therapy of reflex fainting should be aimed at improving the physical condition, reducing a person's excitability, and correcting autonomic dysfunctions and vascular disorders. It is important to observe the regime and perform daily hygienic gymnastic exercises in the morning.

Fainting in a woman

Gentle ladies and young ladies of the past centuries considered it good form to get away from any everyday difficulties and delicate situations with the help of a banal swoon. This passage was facilitated by tight corsets, squeezing the ribs and making it difficult to breathe, dietary restrictions leading to anemia, and a mobile psyche that was loosened by reading French novels.

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

neglect of admission to critical days iron-containing drugs 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 impaired contractility of the uterus and provoking menstrual pain, which can be easily stopped by indomethacin.

Fainting due to illness

Fainting due to a specific situation or a combination of several circumstances occurs quite often.

Therefore, it is so important after fainting to try to find out the reason for its appearance and analyze the circumstances that led to it.

Weakness in specific parts of the body and the presence of additional symptoms with fainting are common signs of stroke and transient ischemic attack. Unequal pressure on different hands can be a symptom of aortic dissection, and a violation of the heartbeat and pulse detection before fainting signals a heart valve pathology. Nervous system disorders can also cause this condition and are characterized by motor impairment before and after it.

With absolutely any suspicion of fainting due to some kind of disease, you should immediately consult a doctor, and, if necessary, resort to hospitalization for a detailed examination.

After all, it is the symptoms of a pre-fainting and post-fainting state that are best able to answer many questions that will help to establish the disease and prescribe its correct treatment. Also remember that fainting can be caused by severe blood loss, and internal bleeding cannot be seen with the naked eye, can last for a while and be very life-threatening.

Do not ignore any cases of fainting. If external factors or their combination played a role, then we must try to avoid such situations in the future.

Panina Valentina Viktorovna

Actress, Honored Artist of the RSFSR

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I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need to do an MRI.

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I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need to do an MRI.

And after the performance I’m with you. I really liked your staff. Thank you for your attention, kindness and accuracy.

May everything be as good in your soul as I have now, despite all the problems ...

Be !!! To our delight! Yours, V.V. Panina

I found out about you on the Internet - I urgently need to do an MRI.

And after the performance I’m with you. I really liked your staff. Thank you for your attention, kindness and accuracy.

May everything be as good in your soul as I have now, despite all the problems ...

Be !!! To our delight! Yours, V.V. Panina

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Sergei Shnurov

Russian rock musician, film actor, TV presenter and artist.

Ts. M.R.T. "Petrogradskiy" thanks!

Thank you very much for such a good, professional service in your clinic. Nice, comfortable! Great people, great conditions.

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Rusanova

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Everything is very competent, very friendly service. I will recommend this clinic to my friends. Good luck !!!

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Kuznetsov V.A.

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Khrabrova V.E.

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Thank you very much for the consultation and examination ... She explained the progress and the result in a very polite, comprehensible and detailed manner.