home Audience 4 Why a person faints, the main reasons. Why people faint - causes of sudden loss of consciousness

Why a person faints, the main reasons. Why people faint - causes of sudden loss of consciousness

Fainting- This is a short-term loss of consciousness, while consciousness is restored spontaneously. Temporary loss of consciousness or fainting, according to various sources, occurs in 3% of patients who seek emergency medical help.

Fainting is a consequence of a temporary reduction in blood flow (and oxygen supply) to the brain, which may manifest as confusion, blackout, or loss of consciousness.

Fainting can last from a few seconds to several minutes. Usually a person comes to his senses after a while. Fainting in itself is not a disease, but a symptom.

Causes of fainting

There are many known factors that can temporarily reduce blood flow to the brain. Temporary loss of consciousness may be associated with heart disease and other conditions. More often, temporary loss of consciousness is caused by factors that directly not connected to the heart.

These factors include:

dehydration;
medications that affect blood pressure;
vascular diseases of the legs in the elderly;
diabetes;
Parkinson's disease.

In addition, fainting is possible when changing body position- from a lying or sitting position, a sharp transition to a vertical position (postural hypotension);

Decreased total blood volume and/or bad condition leg vessels leads to a disproportionate distribution of blood in the legs and insufficient blood supply to the brain when a person assumes a standing position.

Other non-cardiac causes of temporary loss of consciousness include loss of consciousness after blood drains, or after certain situational events ( situational fainting) such as urination, defecation, or coughing. This occurs due to a reflex of the nervous system (vasovagal response), which leads to a slower heart rate and dilation of blood vessels in the legs, thus reducing blood pressure.

The result is that less blood (and therefore less oxygen) reaches the brain as it is directed to the legs. With situational fainting, patients often note nausea, sweating, and weakness that occur before loss of consciousness.

Vasovagal reaction is also called vasovagal crisis, and situational syncope is also called vasovagal syncope, vasodepressor syncope. Cerebral hemorrhage - stroke or pre-stroke (transient ischemic attack) and migraines can also lead to temporary loss of consciousness.

Factors related to heart function that may lead to temporary loss of consciousness include:

Profound fainting may be a symptom of the following diseases:

Symptoms of fainting

When you faint, consciousness may suddenly turn off. But sometimes it is preceded fainting state, characterized by the following features:

Fainting conditions most often occur in a standing position, much less often in a sitting position, and when the patient goes into supine position, as a rule, pass.

When fainting, in addition to a short-term loss of consciousness, a number of symptoms are observed vegetative-vascular disorders:

paleness of the face;
cold extremities;
the skin becomes covered with sweat;
slow pulse;
blood pressure is low;
breathing is rare, shallow;
the pupils are sometimes dilated and sometimes constricted, reacting quickly to light;
tendon reflexes are normal.

Fainting usually lasts from a few seconds to one minute, rarely up to 2-5 minutes due to longer and deeper anemia of the brain, more often with heart disease or disturbances in homeostasis. Prolonged fainting may be accompanied by convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face and limbs, increased salivation.

After recovering from a fainting state, some patients (mainly with a longer loss of consciousness) experience a so-called post-fainting state for several hours, which is manifested by weakness, headache, and increased sweating.

In persons prone to fainting, these phenomena under the influence of the above reasons may occur again. During the period between paroxysms, patients experience various disorders (asthenodepressive manifestations, predominance of autonomic reactions, etc.).

Diagnosis after fainting

The cause of temporary loss of consciousness can only be diagnosed after a detailed study of individual factors (before, during and after fainting), assessment medicines and consideration of the main medical indications. It should be noted that many of the causes of temporary loss of consciousness can be detected only through a thorough examination.

Dizziness after standing in older people indicates postural hypotension.

Temporary loss of consciousness after urination, defecation, or coughing indicates situational syncope.

Cardiac causes causing temporary loss of consciousness, such as aortic stenosis or cardiomyopathy, are assumed to occur before loss of consciousness.

Signs of weakness in certain areas of the body, with temporary loss of consciousness, suggest a stroke. Blood pressure and pulse are assessed in the supine, sitting and standing positions. Different pressures in each arm may be a sign of aortic dissection.

The heart is examined with a stethoscope, sounds that may indicate valve pathology are listened to. Studying the nervous system, sensations, reflexes and motor functions can identify disorders of the nervous system and brain.

An ECG can detect abnormal heart rhythms. Depending on the presence or absence of accompanying symptoms, people with certain forms of temporary loss of consciousness may be admitted to the hospital for observation and further evaluation.

Other tests to evaluate temporary loss of consciousness due to a cardiac cause include:

echocardiography;
heart rate control (monitoring);
electrophysiological studies of the heart.

When cardiac factors are not suspected, a test may be performed to identify the cause of temporary loss of consciousness. examination of the patient in the supine position with additional tilt. This type of examination involves placing the patient on a table with leg support. The table is raised up and blood pressure and pulse are measured, i.e. recorded possible reasons in various positions.

Treatment of fainting

Treatment for a patient with temporary loss of consciousness depends on the cause of the incident. For many non-cardiac causes of temporary loss of consciousness (such as postural hypotension, vasovagal reaction and situational syncope) special treatment is not required, and consciousness will return again when the victim simply sits or lies down.

After this, people are advised to avoid challenging this state situations. For example, not straining, standing up abruptly, sitting or lying in bed when coughing, using these measures can help prevent situational fainting.

Causes related to the heart and nervous system are considered according to specific disease . Elderly people are advised to carry all medications prescribed by their doctor with them, and to exercise caution when changing positions they were in. long time. Raising your body slowly allows you to adjust to the new position, which minimizes the chance of fainting. In addition, elderly patients should avoid dehydration.

Which doctors should you contact if you faint?

First aid for fainting

In a pre-fainting state, a person sharp turns pale, weakens, his pupils dilate and he slowly slides to the ground. If this is noticed in time, then fainting can be prevented; for this it is necessary for the person to sit on a chair and lower his head below his knees, as if tying his shoelaces (this way we will cause blood flow to the head and eliminate the very cause of fainting).

If fainting does occur, then the following must be done:

In most cases, these measures are quite sufficient for a person to came to my senses.

But if this does not happen, then resuscitation efforts must be continued. It is necessary to “turn on” the victim’s brain. But how? Where is the “turn on” button?

If explained with medical point vision, then to “turn on” it is necessary to initiate the formation in the brain dominant focus of excitation, that is, to give the brain some signal from the outside world so that it reacts, reflexively launches some center, and with it the whole “system” starts up. What needs to be done for this? Any strong irritant will do.

I think everyone knows it from childhood, and it often appears in films - it is necessary give it a sniff ammonia , also known as ammonia solution (very unpleasant specific smell, almost immediately lifts the person), splash water on the face, or lightly pat the cheeks (kind of like light slaps, but don’t overdo it).

Immediately after fainting, you should not try to lift the person - the blood supply has not yet been fully restored and the fainting may recur. It is better to gradually bring him to his senses, talk about something and, as far as possible, control the person’s condition.

If all of the above does not help, then call ambulance , because prolonged brain hypoxia (lack of oxygen) causes irreversible changes, even death.

Questions and answers on the topic "Fainting"

Question:Good afternoon I’m 72, loss of consciousness began in grades 5-7, then for a long time there were no attacks, or their frequency was insignificant. But literally in July-August there were three days in a row and 3-5 times a day. At the same time, the pressure is 140-94. Wherever I consulted, the ECG is normal with minor deviations, which, as I was told, do not affect the loss of consciousness. Speak healthy. So what could be the reasons and what can be done. Thank you and I look forward to your answer.

Answer: You need an in-person consultation with a neurologist.

Question:Hello. Girl, 31 years old. Didn't give birth. A month ago I flew to Sochi, on the fourth day after arrival I took the cat to the veterinary clinic to trim its claws, the cat meowed a lot because it was in pain. I was holding her and suddenly I felt suddenly dizzy, for about 2 seconds I fainted. According to the stories of those present, I suddenly turned pale, said that I felt bad (I remember this), turned blue, fell, they could not unclench my jaw, urination occurred, they could not bring me to my senses, then they pressed hard on my eyes, I woke up, they immediately began to lift me up and water, vomited. After that I came home exhausted. And after that, for a week, I had a headache, then I felt dizzy, and now spots appeared before my eyes. I did an EEG, an MRI of the brain, an ECG, an ultrasound of everything - they found nothing. Only anemia. They prescribed iron. 7 years ago they installed VSD with panic attacks, in I didn’t faint then. I was treated for a year and after that there were almost no symptoms, sometimes anxiety creeps up, but I calmly dealt with it. In recent months I have lost a lot of weight, I weigh 48 kg with a height of 168 cm. A week before, I was very nervous, ate poorly, was general weakness, I didn’t get enough sleep even if I slept for a long time, there was a feeling of tightness in my chest, in Sochi 5 days before the events I drank heavily (although in general I don’t drink often), on the morning of the day I only drank coffee and smoked a cigarette. There is no history of epilepsy in the family. Which possible options what happened?

Answer: Dizziness is one of the symptoms of anemia.

Question:My adult son, 33 years old, began to lose consciousness very often, there was a lot of stress in the family, I have a wife but no sex, and with my son, attacks are repeated several times a day.

Answer: There can be many reasons; an in-person consultation with a neurologist is necessary for examination.

Question:Hello. My husband had surgery. The left lung and recurrent nerve were removed. Could this be the cause of short-term fainting?

Answer: Hello! Yes, this is possible after removal of the lung. Everything must be done rehabilitation measures recommended by your attending physician.

Question:Hello, my 7-year-old daughter hit her elbow and after walking a little she fainted, luckily she fell on the bed. Could this fainting be a consequence of the blow?

Answer: Hello! More likely, low threshold pain sensitivity, so there was mild degree painful shock, leading to a short-term loss of consciousness.

Question:Hello! My daughter is 7 years old, and from the age of 4 she faints at the sight of blood, turns white, and when brought to her senses she also begins to become a coward. It doesn’t matter whether it’s her blood or not, if she’s scratched, she’ll faint. We go to get tested - they already know us there without ammonia and they don’t greet us. Tell me what is this? Why is this happening?

Answer: Hello! This phobia is not uncommon, it exists in 3-4% of people on our planet, it occurs as a result of the vasovagal reaction of the parasympathetic nervous system (this theory belongs to John Sanford), reflexively at the sight of danger (blood), the person “plays dead”, then there is losing consciousness. You can fight this; you need to see a psychologist.

Question:I am 30 years old. Since childhood, she suffered from VSD of the hypotonic type and was weather dependent. Over the past 5 years, symptoms have decreased significantly. However, for Last year There have already been 3 strange fainting spells. I go to bed absolutely healthy, I get out of bed the same way, but 2-3 minutes after getting out of bed I have a sudden deep fainting spell (I fall to my full height), it’s hard for me to come to my senses. For half an hour after that, I still have trouble thinking clearly. What could be the reason for this and how to prevent the situation from happening again.

Answer: These are orthostatic fainting (from standing up suddenly). Sit down first.

Question:Hello. I am 17 years old. Fainting began in early autumn last year. Before this, there were short-term blurred vision and a little shaking. Usually, fainting begins when there is unbearable stuffiness outside, or the room is poorly ventilated, or in public transport. Please help me with advice on which doctor is best to see.

Answer: Hello! You need to see a neurologist. You may need a comprehensive examination: EEG, ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck, fundus examination, consultation with an endocrinologist, blood tests.

Question:Hello, I'm 21 years old. Yesterday I was getting ready to meet friends and got into heavy rain. I ran home. When I stopped, my vision darkened and I was short of breath. Weakness appeared. I stopped seeing. I sat down on the side of the road. When I tried to continue moving, I fainted. I don’t remember anything for 2-3 minutes. I continued moving slowly. My vision also periodically grew dark. All the muscles were very relaxed, the legs did not obey, palpitations, shortness of breath. The first fainting spell. Should I see a doctor? What could it be? How dangerous?

Answer: Good afternoon. This is a manifestation of VSD. The pressure drops sharply and the vision becomes dark. See a neurologist.

Question:Hello! My daughter (13 years old) has fainting spells, frequent dizziness and headaches. What kind of examination is necessary?

Answer: Hello! Frequent fainting is a syncope, I recommend that you do an EEG and consult a neurologist/epileptologist.

Question:Hello, I'm 26 years old. After giving birth (a year ago), I began to faint, 3 times in a year. Took an x-ray cervical region vertebra, as a result of which a diagnosis was made: spinal osteochondrosis. According to the results of an ultrasound scan of the brain: Signs of vasospasm in the MCA, right and left. Right and left vertebral artery small diameter. There is sufficient blood flow in the vertebrobasilar basin. No hemodynamic significant obstructions to blood flow in the BCA were identified. Do I need to carry out any other examinations or do x-rays and ultrasounds explain everything how to treat this?

Answer: Hello! With the results of ultrasound and x-ray, you need to contact a neurologist to determine treatment tactics.

Question:Once every 1.5 years adult daughter began to lose consciousness. First time at 19 years old. Everything was examined. Tomograph of the head, neck, blood vessels. Eat cervical chondrosis 4-5 vertebrae. Slight vasoconstriction. One day my cholesterol was elevated. Sometimes with a headache the pressure is 130-80, the working pressure is 110-70. We went from doctor to doctor and couldn’t find anything. It all starts again - at first a long headache, nausea, darkening of the eyes and fainting. And after fainting, all symptoms disappear. It was as if nothing hurt. There are no cramps or foam. The neurologist prescribed Supradin and Mexidol, 1 tablet 3 times a day for 3 months. What then? Who should I go to for the correct treatment and diagnosis?

Answer: Go to a neurologist with a preliminary diagnosis of migraine and carry out normal treatment. And cholesterol has nothing to do with it.

Question:Hello! I am 24 years old. Starting at the age of 16, I began to lose consciousness due to pain in the stomach (the pain is terrible), this happens every time I eat something fatty, and 8 hours after eating this food, usually at night (I wake up from pain, go to the toilet and fall into fainting). This happens approximately every 3 months, sometimes more often. After fainting, vomiting and profuse loose stools. Then I don’t go to the toilet at all for a week. I went to the doctor, but nothing was found (6 years ago I had 2 stomach ulcers, but they had healed long ago), only ordinary gastritis. The gastric mucosa is normal. They only prescribe the usual antispasmodic drugs, but they don’t help, I still lose consciousness. What could be my problem and is it possible to somehow cure it (otherwise I’m tired of falling, I’ve already broken my nose and it’s generally painful)?

Answer: Your symptoms are very unusual, it is advisable to carry out the examination in a hospital, since it is possible that there are not only problems with the gastrointestinal tract. But you also need to exclude so-called neuroendocrine diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In general, I recommend going for an examination at diagnostic center without waiting for the next attack.

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

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 condition.

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

The most common causes of fainting are vasovagal (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 syncope and is caused by an abnormal vascular reflex.

The heart pumps more intensely, the blood vessels relax, but the heart rate does not compensate quickly enough to maintain blood flow to the brain.

Causes of vasovagal syncope:

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

2) emotional factors (stress);

3) physical factors(load);

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

Situational fainting only occurs in certain situations.

Causes of situational fainting:

1) cough (some people faint when coughing too hard);

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

3) when urinating (when a susceptible person loses consciousness with a full 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 while lying down, but when standing up, may suddenly faint. Blood flow to the brain decreases when a person stands due to a temporary decrease in blood pressure.

This fainting sometimes occurs in people who have recently started taking (or have been changed to) certain heart 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 medications, diseases of the nervous system, or congenital problems. Cardiac syncope occurs when a person loses consciousness due to cardiovascular diseases.

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

1) abnormal heart rhythm - arrhythmia. Electrical problems in the heart impair its pumping function. This leads to decreased blood flow. Your heart rate may be too fast or too slow. This condition usually causes fainting without any warning.

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

3) heart failure: the pumping ability of the heart is impaired. This reduces the force with which blood circulates through 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 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 in rare cases A migraine can cause fainting. Psychogenic fainting. Hyperventilation due to anxiety can lead to fainting. The diagnosis of psychogenic syncope should be considered only after all other causes have been excluded.

Symptoms of fainting

Losing consciousness is an obvious sign of fainting.

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

The patient experiences pallor, dilated pupils, and sweating.

During loss of consciousness, a person may have low frequency pulse (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 syncope. Before an episode of fainting, a person may notice blood loss (black stools, heavy periods) or fluid loss (vomiting, diarrhea, fever). The person may also experience delusions. Observers may also note paleness, sweating, or signs of dehydration (dry lips and tongue).

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

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

When to seek medical help?

Because fainting can be caused serious condition, All episodes of loss of consciousness should be taken seriously.

Anyone, even after the first episode of loss of consciousness, should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Depending on what was shown medical checkup, the doctor may require tests.

These tests may include: blood tests; ECG, 24-hour monitoring, echocardiography, functional stress test. Table tilt test. This test checks how your body reacts to changes in position. Tests to detect nervous system problems (head CT scan, brain MRI or EEG).

If the person next to you faints, help him.

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

Treatment of fainting

Treatment for fainting depends on the diagnosis.

Vasovagal syncope. Drink plenty of water, increase your salt intake (under medical supervision), and avoid standing for long periods of time.

Orthostatic syncope. Change your lifestyle: Sit down and flex your calf muscles for a few minutes before getting out of bed. Stay hydrated.

Elderly people with low blood pressure Large meals should be avoided after meals or you should plan to lie down for several hours after eating. In most cases, you should stop taking the medications that cause fainting (or change them).

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

Valvular heart disease often requires surgical intervention, while arrhythmia can be treated with medications.

Medications and lifestyle changes.

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

Surgery: bypass surgery or angioplasty are used to treat coronary disease hearts; in some cases the valves may need to 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 control life threatening fast arrhythmia.

Preventing fainting

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 due to the heat, cool down your body.
If you faint while standing (after lying down), move slowly while standing. Slowly move into 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 subtle. That's why Consult your doctor to determine the cause of fainting.

Once the cause is determined, treatment for the underlying disease should begin.

Cardiac syncope: Because of the high risk of death from cardiac syncope, people who experience it should be treated for their underlying illness.

Periodic fainting. Consult your doctor to determine the cause frequent loss consciousness.

Prognosis due to fainting

The prognosis for a person who has fainted depends largely on the cause, the patient's age, and available methods treatment.

Cardiac syncope has the greatest risk sudden death, especially in older people.
Syncope that is not related to cardiac or neurological disease, poses a more limited risk than in the general population.

Checking the pulse in the neck area. The pulse can be clearly felt only near the throat (trachea).

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

To determine your 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 fainting happened just once, then you don’t have to worry about it.

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

Fainting may be a sign of a serious problem if:

1) it often occurs over a short period of time.

2) it occurs during exercise or vigorous activity.

3) fainting occurs without warning or in a supine position. When fainting is not serious, the person often knows it is about to happen and vomits or feels sick.

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

5) shortness of breath is noted.

6) chest pain is noted.

7) a 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, please ask

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 treatment methods.

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

Every third person on earth has experienced fainting (syncope) at least once in their life. In almost half of the cases, it is not possible to establish the true cause of fainting.

Fainting is a short-term loss of consciousness due to a temporary decrease in cerebral circulation.

Fainting is based on loss of vascular tone, which is accompanied by a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in blood supply to the brain. The main thing that distinguishes one type of fainting from another is the mechanism by which cerebral circulation decreases and oxygen starvation.

There are many causes of syncope, but they can be grouped into several groups. Modern classification distinguishes by etiological (causal) factor the following types fainting states.

Neurogenic syncope

Fainting can occur with a sudden change in body position in space.

The main role is played by the imbalance between. Excessive stimulation of receptors parasympathetic system leads to a decrease in vascular tone and, as a consequence, to arterial hypotension.

There are several types of neurogenic syncope.

Vasovagal:

Caused by psycho-emotional stress (fright, fear, the sight of blood, visiting the dentist, fear of heights).
Caused by a sudden change in body position in space.

Situational (during swallowing, urinating, coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, etc.).
Carotid sinus syndrome.

Cardiogenic syncope

As a result of heart disease, the normal ejection of blood from the ventricles is disrupted, which reduces the blood supply to the vessels and lowers blood pressure.

Reducing the ejection of blood from the ventricles into systole (arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, aortic stenosis, etc.).
Impaired flow to the left side of the heart (stenosis pulmonary artery and etc.).
Impaired venous return to the heart.

Fainting due to orthostatic hypotension

The causes leading to orthostatic hypotension occur in the following diseases:

Disruption of the autonomic nervous system (diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis).
Reception medicines(diuretics, etc.).
Drinking alcohol.
With loss of fluid through vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding.

Other causes of fainting

Diseases of the central nervous system (subarachnoid hemorrhage).
Psychogenic causes (hysteria).

3. Diseases leading to a decrease in oxygen in the blood (anemia, sepsis).

Syncope of unknown etiology accounts for 41% of all syncope.

Causes of fainting in teenagers

Epidemiological data indicate that 20% of adolescents under 18 years of age have experienced one episode of syncope in their lifetime. In most cases, the causes of fainting in children and adolescents are not a manifestation of life-threatening conditions. However, in rare cases, fainting can be a symptom of a serious pathology (heart disease, endocrine disorders and etc.).

Vasovagal syncope or situational syncope.

The most common is vasovagal syncope, or simple syncope (90%). The mechanism of its development is not fully understood. There is an assumption that some people have a predisposition to this species fainting states. The main role in the development of fainting is played by a decrease in blood pressure (BP) and a decrease in blood supply to the brain in response to a provoking psycho-emotional factor. In a standard situation, when the pressure in the bloodstream decreases, the heart increases the release of blood from the ventricles, but in this situation this does not happen, which leads to the development of a fainting state. IN teenage years the sensitivity of the CNS receptors changes, reducing their excitation threshold to various signals from environment. Increased emotional lability among teenagers in the background hormonal changes creates additional favorable conditions for the implementation of syncope. As a rule, the development of fainting in each person depends on one constant factor (fear, visiting the dentist, type of syringe).

Orthostatic syncope.

At least once in their life, every person has experienced fainting or near-fainting. In this case, for many, fainting becomes a cause of worry and anxiety, most often because such a reaction of the body is not always clear.

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

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

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

Most often, women become victims of fainting, since their blood pressure is more susceptible to fluctuations, and nervous system more vulnerable.

Causes of fainting

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

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

Situational syncope can occur under certain circumstances. Fainting associated with defecation occurs, where straining plays an important role, which causes an increase in intrathoracic pressure and a decrease in venous return. A similar mechanism is also triggered when coughing faints, which occurs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

One of common reasons fainting in older men is hypersensitivity of the carotid sinus if they suffer from arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis carotid arteries. This type of fainting can be caused by wearing a tight collar or turning the head suddenly. The mechanism of fainting is associated with activation of the vagus nerve.

The most common cause of fainting (25%) is heart disease. In addition, this is the most dangerous type of fainting, which you should pay attention to first of all. Quite often, fainting occurs in older people due to heart rhythm disturbances. And if other types of fainting occur, as a rule, in vertical position, then such cardiogenic syncope can happen to a bedridden person. The danger of such fainting is that it occurs very suddenly, unlike vasodepressor fainting, when pathological condition preceded by palpitations. If a patient falls, he may even be injured.

First aid for loss of consciousness

As a rule, fainting states go away very quickly on their own, as soon as the patient takes horizontal position and blood is distributed evenly throughout the body.

The first thing you can do for someone who has fainted is to ensure sufficient access fresh air and place it in a horizontal position.

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

Losing consciousness is a problem that can happen to anyone. Exist various reasons its occurrence, for example, acute oxygen starvation of the brain. Similar condition may be one of the signs various diseases, sometimes even the most serious ones. Regardless of the cause of the unconscious state, such phenomena greatly frighten others and the person himself who finds himself in this situation.

In this article we will try to understand what loss of consciousness is, what causes contribute to the onset of this phenomenon and how to deal with it.

Loss of consciousness is a condition that occurs due to insufficient access of oxygen to the hemispheres of the brain, which leads to dysfunction of the nervous system. In this case, the person falls and stops reacting to the environment, after which he comes to his senses spontaneously. There are several varieties of this condition:

confused - clouding of reason, manifestation of delirium and indifference to the surrounding world;
soporous – deeply depressed consciousness with preserved reflexes;
deafening - drowsiness, a sharp decrease in the level of wakefulness;
stupor – numbness, immobility;
fainting– short-term unconsciousness, which lasts from a few seconds to half an hour;
comatose– profound loss of consciousness caused by dysfunction of the brain.

Symptoms

Among the signs of pre-fainting, the following are noted:

It is at this time that emergency medical care is necessary to prevent the victim from losing consciousness. However, fainting often occurs suddenly, and therefore its approach is unnoticeable to others. The following happens:

dilation and slowing of the reaction of the pupils to light;
loss of balance and sudden fall;
muscle relaxation;
eye rolling;
pale shade skin or their turning blue;
dulling of pain;
seizures;
lack of response to stimuli;
convulsions and twitching of limbs.

In addition, there are cases when the victim experiences involuntary loss of urine. When a person comes to his senses, he feels weak, overwhelmed and drowsy.

Common reasons

There are many factors that provoke loss of consciousness. A sudden decrease in blood circulation in the cerebral hemispheres is caused by:

Pathological response of the central nervous system to stress(fear, fatigue). In this case, the choroid plexus expands, the pressure suddenly decreases, and blood circulation slows down. As a result, the nutrition of brain structures deteriorates.
Heart diseases. This is associated with reduced activity of cardiac output during manifestations of arrhythmia, blockade and other similar ailments.
Orthostatic hypotension. In this case, you may lose consciousness when suddenly moving from a lying position to a standing position (for example, when standing up). Blood may not have time to move from the lower extremities to other areas, including the brain.
Shock and acute pain. Stressful situation and sudden occurrence unpleasant sensation contribute to disruption of blood flow to organs.

Speaking about other causes of loss of consciousness, situational fainting should be noted. It occurs as a result of the vasovagal reaction - a reflex of the central nervous system, leading to a slowing of the pulse and dilation of the vessels of the lower extremities. This type of syncope is often called vasodepressor syncope. Due to low pressure, insufficient oxygen reaches the brain. At the moment of loss of consciousness, nausea is noted, profuse sweating, weakness. Such symptoms are a harbinger of fainting. In addition, people can fall into unconsciousness from cerebral hemorrhages, namely from stroke and migraine.

Causes of frequent loss of consciousness

A separate group includes factors that contribute to short-term attacks of loss of consciousness, which occur quite often. It can be psychical deviations, which appear occasionally in a sick person, for example, hysterical neurosis or breakdown. Circulatory problems may occur when epileptic seizure. People prone to hypotension ( low pressure) and diabetes mellitus may also be susceptible to similar attacks.

There are various causes of loss of consciousness, characteristic of women and men.

For the fairer sex

In past centuries, a similar condition was often caused by tightly tightened corsets, which compressed the ribs and made breathing difficult, strict diets that provoked anemia, etc.

Nowadays women lose consciousness various reasons, including the following:

internal bleeding due to gynecological disease;
strict diets or poor nutrition;
a violent outburst of emotions;
menorrhagia.

Among the representatives of the stronger sex

Most often, loss of consciousness in men is caused by the following factors:

alcohol intoxication of the body;
a tight collar or tight tie of a business suit;
night urination and coughing in older men.

In pregnant women

Women in a position with normal physiological process You should not lose consciousness while carrying a child. However, the expectant mother may experience some preconditions that worsen cerebral blood flow. The uterus stretches under the weight of the fetus and puts pressure on both nearby organs and the vena cava in the lower part, contributing to the development of passive hyperemia; the return of blood to the heart and blood supply to the brain deteriorate. Therefore, pregnant women should not lean forward sharply or walk in tight clothing.

Anemia, which is often found in expectant mothers, can also be a harbinger of loss of consciousness. A similar situation has already been observed in early stages. During the period of bearing a child, iron elements are spent on the growth and development of the baby, thereby depleting the mother's blood of hemoglobin. A lack of this substance leads to poor oxygen supply to the brain. Therefore, doctors systematically check the blood of pregnant women for hemoglobin levels and the number of red blood cells.

In children and adolescents

At a young age, loss of consciousness can occur for the same reasons as in adults. Each attack should be examined by pediatricians and neurologists.

This phenomenon occurs much more often during puberty. One of the main reasons is fast growth. In girls, loss of consciousness can occur due to hidden anemia and vegetative-vascular dystonia. Guys, unlike the opposite sex, are more often susceptible to connective tissue dysplasia of the heart. For example, prolapse mitral valve, which is often found in young men of asthenic physique (thin and elongated limbs) and is manifested by blurred vision, fainting when standing up suddenly.

For diseases

Loss of consciousness is often a sign of certain pathologies. Below we consider the most common ailments:

Vascular diseases. This group includes atherosclerosis, cerebral vascular stenosis and cervical osteochondrosis. They provoke chronic disturbances in the blood flow, which can severely deteriorate memory, sleep and hearing, and in rare cases, loss of consciousness. varying degrees gravity. This is also caused by varicose veins, which are often found in older people. High blood pressure (hypertension) causes severe dizziness, causing unconsciousness.
Heart pathologies. A defect in the central circulatory system or changes in large vessels contribute to insufficient blood flow to the brain. Loss of consciousness can be a complication of a disease such as myocardial infarction, as it provokes a decrease in the contractility of the heart muscle. In addition, various rhythm disturbances lead to a state of unconsciousness, for example, weak sinus node, heart block, ventricular fibrillation in the brain, etc.
Lung pathologies. A disease like bronchial asthma, can lead to disruption of gas exchange functions from respiratory organs to the tissues, causing insufficient oxygen to reach the brain. Arterial thromboembolism and pulmonary hypertension can also manifest as loss of consciousness.
Traumatic brain injury. Concussions and bruises in the head area are often accompanied by fainting.
Painful or infectious-toxic shock. In case of injury or pathology of internal organs, pain or harmful substances may contribute to inhibition of the functions of the cerebral cortex.
Diabetes. The disease leads to hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis, which develop into a fainting state. It is for this reason (if blood sugar rises) that it is necessary to systematically use sugar-lowering drugs.
Diseases accompanied by irritation of the reflex zones of the vagus nerve. These include stomach ulcers and duodenum, gastritis and pancreatitis.

In healthy people

Persons who are not prone to any diseases are also capable of falling into an unconscious state in certain cases. Among such situations, the following are noted:

Hunger. Strict diets and refusal to eat deprive the body of glucose, which is why the necessary amounts of nutrients stop getting into the brain. If a person exercises on an empty stomach physical activity, such activities can provoke hungry fainting.
Abuse of carbohydrates. The other extreme is also dangerous to health. If most of the diet consists of sweets and starchy foods, the pancreas will produce and release into the body an excess portion of insulin, which breaks down protein in the blood. It contains ketone bodies, which cause metabolic disorders in the cerebral cortex.
Injuries. For example, after a blow, loss of consciousness is possible due to severe pain or bleeding.
Lack of oxygen, stuffy room, tight underwear or a tight tie. Being in tight clothes in a stuffy place, for example, in transport, you can lose consciousness from lack of oxygen.

Fainting can be caused by sharp drop temperature (for example, when a person runs out of a bathhouse into the snow), sunstroke, smoke inhalation. Some are able to react strongly to changes atmospheric pressure or a change in weather, losing consciousness. An airplane flight often ends in fainting for some people.

First aid

Timely implementation of treatment and preventive measures will avoid serious consequences upon loss of consciousness. The procedure is as follows:

Call a doctor to provide qualified medical care.
If a person falls into an unconscious state on the street in the heat, it is necessary to carefully take him into the shade and lay him on a flat surface. If this happened in a building, you need to put the patient in a lying position, make sure there is a soft cushion, pillow or rolled clothing under his head.
The victim should count his pulse and listen to his breathing.
The head should be turned to the side so that in case of vomiting the person does not choke.
It is necessary to ensure a good supply of oxygen by unfastening clothing on the chest, belts, belts and other items on the stomach, as well as opening all windows and doors in the room.
In order for oxygen to reach the head faster, the lower limbs should be raised.
If you have a first aid kit, you need to take ammonia and rub the victim’s temples. You should not bring cotton wool soaked in the solution too close to the olfactory organ, as this can be dangerous for the mucous membrane.
The face and body need to be blotted with a damp handkerchief. At high temperature air, clothes can be sprayed with a stream of water.

Emergency assistance must be provided before arrival medical workers. If the victim has regained consciousness, he should be given tea or water to drink. You should not leave the patient alone, as he may become dizzy again, and there is a high risk of hitting himself.

Prevention

Knowing and doing the necessary preventive action, loss of consciousness can be prevented. To do this, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

eat well, including in the diet all micro- and macroelements that contribute to proper operation body;
dedicate a few minutes a day to moderate physical exercise, exercise or running;
women during pregnancy should regularly visit a gynecologist and systematically monitor their health;
avoid excessive physical activity;
if you are prone to fainting, consult with specialists and follow all their instructions; treatment may be prescribed nootropic drugs and vitamin complexes.

Conclusion

According to statistics, about 30% of all people, including those without serious illnesses, have lost consciousness at least once in their lives. There are many reasons leading to such an attack: a sudden circulatory disorder, a jump in blood pressure, a reaction to a change in weather, overheating, etc. It is important to prevent this condition and competently provide first aid medical care to prevent possible consequences.

Repeated loss of consciousness may indicate cardiac or neurological disease. Since the reasons for this phenomenon are diverse, it is necessary comprehensive diagnostics. Even a moment of fainting should alert you and force you to contact a specialist.