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First aid rules for fainting - what to do if you faint, and what not to do? Loss of consciousness due to heart disease - simple fainting or loss of life. You faint from the effort.

Hello, dear readers. Today we have an interesting post, and I’ll tell you about short-term loss of consciousness. This was recorded from the words of Sergei Alexandrovich, a doctor who worked as a chiropractor all his life. I've known him for more than 10 years. Somehow I felt sick (I have an eroded disc in my spine, and it sometimes causes trouble), and my friends gave me the phone number of a good doctor. Since then I visit him often. And when I once again came to the doctor for prevention, namely prevention is the future of medicine, they started talking about “rapid” dizziness and short-term loss of consciousness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For example, in the 19th century, girls often fainted because of fashion. Was fashionable then thin waist, and the girls laced their corsets too tightly. As a result, the vessels are pinched. This even found a place in painting.

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

Brief loss of consciousness due to a fall

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

  • - vasovagal syncope (sharp dilation of blood vessels and slow heart rate);
  • - hyperventilation syncope;
  • - associated with hyperkinetic syndrome (HKS);
  • - cough syncope;
  • - nocturic (occurs in men);
  • - hypoglycemic (lowering blood glucose);
  • - orthostatic fainting (sudden transition from horizontal to vertical position)
  • - traumatic (due to injury, cow circulation is impaired) and so on.

What is typical is that in the vast majority of cases, almost every fainting spell, lipothymia is noted. This is a specific condition, also called “presyncope.” It is accompanied by a deterioration in health, darkening of the eyes (short-term blurred vision and loss of consciousness are very closely related), dizziness, rapid breathing, impaired sense of balance and other symptoms.

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

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

Syncope can be provoked a large number factors. Let's look at the most common ones among them!

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

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

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

The heart muscle slows down its work for a very short period of time, which further aggravates the situation, reducing blood circulation against the background and so extreme low pressure. The body of a healthy person reacts adequately to such situations, and the pressure remains practically stable even with a very sharp change in body position.

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

3. Arrhythmia of the heart muscle. It manifests itself in disruption of the heart: deviation of the rhythm of its contractions from the natural, normal one. It can suddenly beat either too quickly or, on the contrary, too slowly. This disrupts the perfusion of brain tissue, causing loss of balance, sense of spatial orientation, falling, and so on.

Heart rhythm disturbances often result from: sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia and other reasons. isn't very common cause syncopation, but it makes sense to consider it as a possibility.

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

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

5. Fainting caused by a serious disruption of blood circulation in the brain itself. The reasons are also varied: from previous injuries to blockage of blood vessels due to the presence of blood clots or cholesterol plaques.

Brief loss of consciousness for a few seconds causes

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

But, cases of loss of consciousness and more are also possible. long period, from a few seconds to several minutes. These include:

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

- intracerebral bleeding (hemorrhage);

- subarachnoid hemorrhage;

- thrombosis of the basilar artery;

- traumatic brain injuries varying degrees severity, as well as spinal injuries;

- metabolic disorders;

- exogenous intoxication;

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

Should I help a person who has fainted on my own, without having any special education or even basic knowledge in providing emergency care? emergency care? This is a rhetorical question. It all depends on the situation.

If, for example, you know that an ambulance is on the way, and the situation does not require urgent drastic measures, there is no need to do anything, just wait near the patient until specialists arrive.

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

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

- move the person to a safe place;

- if he is lying on his stomach, turn him over onto his back;

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

- sprinkle his face with fresh water;

- provide him with a flow of fresh air.

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

If we are talking about helping yourself, then this, a priori, is impossible until you come to consciousness. After this, you should call for help. If there is no one nearby, you need to very slowly, but without excessive load on the muscles of your limbs, rise and slowly walk to the nearest place where you can sit down until you fully come to your senses.

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

Which doctor will help?

It often turns out that the first doctor you have to contact is an ambulance worker. Further, if necessary (depending on the causes of fainting), the patient can be sent to a hospital, where he is treated by a general practitioner. Depending on the situation, they can be completely involved in the treatment process. various specialists: surgeon, neurologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist and others.

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

What to do to avoid short-term loss of consciousness

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

In terms of recommendations for the general strengthening of the body, we can advise: hardening, normalizing the daily routine, excluding from your life, if possible, any stressful situations, refusal bad habits, maintaining an active lifestyle and so on. Naturally, general strengthening measures should not contradict possible contraindications. Be healthy!

Each of us wants to know why people faint.

According to doctors, fainting is a loss of consciousness for a short time due to impaired cerebral circulation.

And it happens to each of us for one reason or another.

Why people faint, signs:

The most common signs and causes of fainting are increased tension in a woman’s nervous system.

If you say in simple language, then some of us react very emotionally to external stimuli, unexpected news, or even unexpected joy or shock from the news.

  • The legs become weak and give way.
  • Loss of consciousness.

Fainting and loss of consciousness, what happens:

Your reaction to news that strikes you causes the production of adrenaline in the body, in which adrenaline directs blood to the heart, lungs, muscles, but at the same time insufficiently supplies it to the brain.

The sudden redistribution of blood in the body leads to fainting. Knowing this feature in yourself, prepare for the reactions of your beloved organism in advance.

Fainting can happen to any of us, for example, in a stuffy room, and even a cramped one. In this case, fainting is caused by a long stay in an upright position and lack of oxygen “hypoxia” due to stuffiness.

To prevent lightheadedness, leave the room if possible; if this is not possible, sit down and unbutton your clothes or tight clothing.

Always carry a bottle of water and something to eat with you, as soon as you feel that you are getting sick, eat anything and drink water, it helps.

Help for fainting:

If fainting does occur, you will have to provide first aid; teach your loved ones to provide it to you.

  • It is necessary to lay the person in such a way that the legs are higher than the head, for a rapid flow of blood to the brain. You don't need to put anything under your head.
  • Free the patient from all restrictive clothing for better access to fresh air.
  • Sometimes when a person faints, they vomit. To prevent him from choking on vomit, turn his head to the side and free him oral cavity from vomit.
  • You can spray the patient with water or hold a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to the nose.
  • When the patient comes to his senses, he should be given a cup of tea and
    whether coffee, drop some valerian or corvalol.
  • Fainting and loss of consciousness last from several seconds to several minutes; if the patient does not come to his senses for more than 5 minutes, he must be urgently hospitalized.

Hungry faint:

If you are on a strict diet and apply severe dietary restrictions to yourself, then the occurrence of fainting and loss of consciousness is not surprising.

You dramatically deprive the body of essential nutrients and at the same time slow down the flow of blood to the brain.

Due to dietary restrictions, you lack the energy we need so much and the level drops, and sugar, as you know, is the main food for our brain.

Its deficiency causes hypoglycemia i.e. hunger nerve cells t a sharp disruption of their activities.

You should always have sweets in your purse. Dietary restrictions must be implemented wisely and gradually.

If, despite all your efforts, you continue to faint, stop all diets and eat right, and don’t kill yourself ahead of time.

The brain, which is often in a deficit of blood and oxygen during hungry fainting, does not lead to anything good.

Frequent fainting:

With frequent fainting, You definitely need to undergo a thorough examination of your body if you suffer from hungry fainting.

This should not be the case - this is not the norm, but a deviation from it.

Perhaps you have:

Neurosis:

  • Demonstration of fainting so that those present can see how bad you are and come to your aid in time. The help of a psychotherapist is required.

Chronic lung diseases:

  • During prolonged coughing attacks, the pressure in the chest increases and venous drainage blood from the skull is difficult.

Cardiovascular diseases:

  • When heart rhythm disturbances occur, cardiac output decreases.

Epilepsy:

  • Sometimes epilepsy attacks are non-convulsive, and simply severe fainting may be accompanied by convulsions.
  • If you suffer from this disease, undergo an electroencephalogram for an accurate diagnosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine:

  • With this disease, damage to the arteries supplying the brain is observed.
  • You experience double vision, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting.
  • When you turn your head, you often faint and lose consciousness.

In order to determine the nature of frequent fainting, undergo an examination and check:

Why do people faint, diagnosis:

  • Blood pressure.
  • Examine the fundus.
  • Donate blood for: sugar, residual nitrogen, CBS.
  • Submit urine for: determination of protein in urine, acetone, glucose, sediment.
  • Radiography.
  • Sonography.
  • Computed tomography of the skull.
  • ECG sometimes requires daily monitoring.

Eat foods containing vitamin B:

  • Bananas, apricots, pork and beef liver, nuts, or take pharmaceutical drugs in a dose three times higher than normal.
  • Thus, we strengthen our nervous system

You can perform a well-helping massage:

  • Capture middle finger any hand between the index and thumb other hand.
  • Perform the massage by pressing with medium force with your nail thumb to the rhythm of your heartbeat.
  • The massage is performed on both hands.

If you undergo the examination in time and understand why you are fainting, you need to undergo treatment.

The most important thing in treatment is supportive procedures.

This disease can bring a lot of trouble. Frequent fainting in people is alarm signal, please get treatment and get well!

I always look forward to seeing you on my site. Please come in!

Watch the video why people faint:

Health

Fear. Pain. Stress. Heat. Exhaustion... Such strong feelings and conditions can often provoke fainting: nausea, circles and spots before the eyes, noise and ringing in the ears. The man turns pale and has protruding eyes cold sweat, he feels weak, dizzy, his legs give way, and... he falls. Every third person, according to medical researchers, has fainted at least once in their life. But in some people such conditions are not a manifestation of a dangerous disease, in others they are associated with a risk to life.

What is the reason?
The main cause of fainting is sudden circulatory failure in the brain. As a result, vasospasm occurs and blood flow to the brain practically stops. Such conditions can occur due to heart rhythm disturbances, the presence of obstacles to intracardiac or pulmonary blood flow, or atherosclerosis of the arteries. The classification of types of fainting depends on the reasons that led to a decrease in cerebral blood flow. For example, neurogenic ones (accounting for more than 50% of all fainting spells) occur due to disruptions in the autonomic nervous system, which lead to improper regulation of vascular contractility. Vasopressor fainting occurs, which occurs with severe fear, stress, stuffiness, the sight of blood, and prolonged standing. Orthostatic (6%) appear when standing up suddenly or taking medications - for example, antidepressants. Arrhythmogenic (11%) are associated with disruption of the heart - with various types of tachycardia or disruption of the pacemaker. Fainting in the background organic diseases cardiopulmonary system (3%) occur with heart defects, acute heart attack, pericarditis.

How to help the victim?
People faint at home, on the street and indoors - and often it happens suddenly. The first thing that eyewitnesses feel is fear, but the main thing in this situation is not to panic, but to rush to the aid of someone who has lost consciousness. What needs to be done?
It is necessary to ensure blood flow to the brain. To do this, lay the victim on his back, turn his head to the side, raise his legs - you can put a cushion of clothing under them or place a chair under them. Carry the man out fresh air or open the window, door, unbutton the collar of your clothes. Place 1-2 drops on cotton wool or cloth ammonia and bring it to the victim’s nose at a distance of 3–5 centimeters. After the person comes to his senses, give him sweet tea, warm him, and provide him with peace. If after 5 minutes the person has not regained consciousness, call an ambulance!

Disappointing statistics
Fainting should not be treated as something harmless. If such conditions occur with constant regularity, get examined by a neurologist and cardiologist. The statistics are disappointing: the risk of death within a year in patients with fainting caused by cardiac pathology reaches 33%. In 35% of people, after fainting for the first time, it is repeated and occurs within 3 years, in 6% of patients fatal injuries are observed, and minor injuries are observed in 30% of such patients. That is why frequent loss of consciousness for no apparent reason is a signal to consult a doctor and conduct the necessary examination. The patient’s blood pressure is usually measured in lying and standing positions and an electrocardiogram is performed. May also require additional methods examinations - tilt test, which allows to identify the cause of sudden fainting, echocardiography.

"Insurance" against fainting
To “insure” against fainting, doctors recommend: avoid stuffy rooms and prolonged exposure to the sun. If this is not possible, at least try to avoid dehydration: drink more liquid - but not sparkling water! If you feel weak and nauseous, don't wait further development events, take action. You must immediately lie down or sit down, and if you sit down, do so with maximum comfort and maximum relaxation. You cannot throw your head back if you are sitting. You can take a few deep, but always slow, breaths. Don't take any medications! You may lose consciousness at any moment, and the tablet may end up in your mouth at that moment and, after relaxing the muscles of the tongue and pharynx, get stuck in windpipe. Increase the flow of oxygen by unfastening the tight collar and loosening the belt.

WHEN TO CALL AN AMBULANCE?
If the person who faints has heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes
Pregnant woman lost consciousness
The victim is a person over 50 years old
Chest pain, arrhythmic pulse, difficulty breathing
Fainting occurred suddenly, without any prior discomfort or nausea
The victim is experiencing confusion
Blurred vision, difficulty speaking
Man lost consciousness while trying to turn his head
Fainting occurs more than once a month
If fainting occurs frequently in an elderly person or occurs after physical activity

Fainting or syncope(from the Greek “syn” - “connection, connection” “koptein” - “interrupt, disconnect”) - a syndrome characterized by short-term and relatively sudden loss consciousness and accompanied by loss of muscle tone and fall. Typically, such states last from a few seconds to 2-5 minutes.
It is known that fainting observed in 12–30% of young and 6–12% of older people. In 95% of cases, the causes of fainting in healthy people remain unknown. The remaining 5% are fainting caused by heart disease

Loss of consciousness is a condition caused by transient dysfunction of cerebral blood flow, causing tissue hypoxia. It manifests itself as a person’s loss of awareness of reality, loss of reflexes, lack of response to external stimulation (deafening sounds, pinching, patting the cheeks), and depression of the ganglion nervous system. The condition being examined is often a sign of various pathologies or may accompany individual ailments. There are many reasons for the disappearance of consciousness.

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

Causes of loss of consciousness

- orthostatic, manifested by sudden intake vertical position, taking certain pharmacopoeial drugs;

- occur due to increased susceptibility of the carotid sinus;

- appear due to compression inside the breasts (appears with frequent night urination, coughing, bowel movements).

Hyperventilation fainting occurs due to a feeling of fear and anxiety. Its mechanism is due to an uncontrolled increase and deepening of breathing.

Below are typical signs and symptoms of loss of consciousness. Before falling into unconsciousness the individual often feels an attack of lightheadedness, nausea, a veil appears, spots appear before the eyes, the subject hears a ringing sound, sudden weakness sets in, and occasionally yawning. Limbs may also become weak and there may be a feeling of impending fainting.

The characteristic symptoms of the described condition include: cold sweat, dullness skin, although a slight blush may persist in some individuals. After falling into an insensitive state, the individual’s epidermis acquires an ashen tint, the frequency of myocardial contractions can either increase or decrease, the pulse is characterized by low fullness, and muscle tone is reduced. While the individual is in a faint state, his pupils are dilated and react slowly to light. Reflexes are often weak or absent altogether. Symptoms of short-term loss of consciousness persist for no more than two seconds.

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

Typically, doctors distinguish three phases of loss of consciousness: pre-fainting, immediate fainting, and post-fainting.

The condition preceding the loss of consciousness is characterized by the appearance of precursors. This state lasts up to twenty seconds. It manifests itself with the following symptoms: nausea, lack of air, severe dizziness, weakness, feeling of heaviness in lower limbs, pallor of the dermis, cold sweat, numbness of the extremities, decreased breathing, weak pulse, a decrease in pressure, darkening and the appearance of “floaters” in the eyes, grayness of the skin, and patients may experience a ringing sensation. In some patients, along with the symptoms being analyzed, there is also anxiety or a feeling of fear, rapid heartbeat, yawning, a feeling like a lump in the throat, numbness of the tip of the tongue, fingers, lips. Often, loss of consciousness never occurs, and the attack ends with the listed symptoms. Especially when taken by the patient immediately after the appearance of the first harbinger of a horizontal position. Very rarely, a fainting state is characterized by suddenness, in other words, it occurs in the absence of previous warning signs. For example, when various violations myocardial rhythm. The feeling of loss of consciousness and “floating away from under the feet of the earth” is the final sign of the phase in question.

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

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

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

After the complete return of consciousness, patients have no disorientation in time, self and space. The first reaction to fainting is fear. Therefore, breathing and heart contractions increase. People feel tired, exhausted, and often experience unpleasant sensations in the epigastric region. People do not remember the middle phase of the insensitive state. Their last memories relate to the first stage, that is, deterioration in health.

Brief loss of consciousness

A sudden fall into an insensitive state always provokes stress in people, since their brain associates the phenomenon in question with a life-threatening disorder or with imminent death. Loss of consciousness mainly occurs due to O2 deficiency in brain tissue. Since of this body fairly intense metabolic metabolism and consumption needs huge amount oxygen, then a slight decrease in oxygen content causes disturbances in consciousness.

The brain regulates the functioning of the body. He can also turn off organs that he currently considers unimportant for the life of the body, and help vital organs, such as the heart. By turning off consciousness, the brain seems to switch off individual oxygen consumers from the chain to reduce the body’s energy consumption. The consequence of this is muscle weakness, dizziness and loss of consciousness, in which the body assumes a horizontal position and becomes completely immobile, which allows the body to direct blood flow to the neurons of the brain. As a result of this mechanism, the individual quickly returns to consciousness.

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

In turn, neurogenic syncope is caused by various factors and is divided into the following types, namely reflex syncope, emotiogenic, associative, dyscirculatory, maladaptive.

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

Emotionogenic loss of consciousness occurs due to a sharp emotional outburst, fear. More often observed with neurotic states. Often, in emotionally unstable individuals, against the background of a frightening event, palpitations, a feeling of heat and difficulty breathing appear. There may also be a feeling of losing consciousness.

Associative syncope occurs when the subject has memories of past pathogenic situations associated with loss of consciousness.

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

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

Cardiogenic syncope occurs due to cardiac pathology, for example, valve disease, insufficient blood output, arrhythmias.

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

Anemic fainting occurs as a consequence of significant blood loss, in particular, quantitative loss of red blood cells, which are the main carriers of O2.

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

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

Weakness, loss of consciousness of extreme origin occurs due to exposure to various external factors. It happens:

- intoxication, when inhaling various toxic gases;

- medicinal, due to the use of pharmacopoeial drugs that reduce capillary tone;

- hyperbaric, due to high pressure V respiratory system due to increased atmospheric pressure figures;

Fainting and loss of consciousness, what is the difference

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

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

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

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

Absolutely all individuals can fall into a state of syncope or fainting, regardless of their differences in age, gender and physical condition. Short-term fainting often occurs when frightened, in a stuffy room due to lack of air, during menstruation, during gestation, with a sudden decrease in pressure, due to an overdose of drugs or abuse of alcohol-containing liquids, with excess physical activity, hunger strike or wrong mode nutrition. Each of these factors provokes the outflow of blood from brain tissue, which gives rise to short-term oxygen starvation neurons.

The main signs of syncope (fainting) are the following: slight confusion of mind, noise in the ears, yawning, dizziness, cold extremities, pale or cyanotic dermis, profuse sweating, decrease muscle tension, nausea, drop in blood pressure, unpleasant feeling in the mouth, pupil dilation. Fainting looks from the outside as if a person is gradually sinking to the floor. Blackout does not occur instantly and can last up to 120 seconds.

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

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

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

First aid for loss of consciousness

Having noticed that the individual is losing consciousness, first of all, it is recommended to provide first aid and take actions to prevent the occurrence of bruises and head injuries. Then the etiological factor of syncope should be eliminated. For example, if an individual passes out due to heat, then it is necessary to reduce the temperature in the room by opening the windows. You can try to return the person to consciousness through external stimuli (sprinkling the face with cold water, patting the cheeks, irritating with ammonia).

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

If an individual has ordinary fainting, then eliminating the factor that gave rise to such a condition will quickly return the person to sanity. In a faint state, loss of consciousness occurs due to a disruption in the blood supply to the brain. Therefore, restoring normal blood circulation is the main task of people providing assistance. To return blood flow to normal condition it is necessary to lay the victim down. In this case, his body should be placed at the same level as his head. This means that, contrary to popular belief among ordinary people, there is no need to put anything under your head, and even more so, you should not throw it back. Since vascular tone is reduced, raising the head will lead to an outflow of blood from the brain cells and restoration of blood supply to the brain will not occur.

Providing assistance in case of loss of consciousness is usually not much different from measures to bring a person out of fainting. The patient must be removed from the area of ​​influence damaging factors, unbuttoning his clothes to provide air access, laying him horizontally, shaking or trying to lift the patient is not recommended. If nosebleeds occur, the individual should be placed on his side. It is impossible to give water to a person who is unconscious, since his reflexes, including swallowing, are absent. The patient may choke if you try to force him to drink. If the individual has not regained consciousness after one hundred and twenty seconds, then he must be hospitalized.

Fainting rarely occurs suddenly. It often follows presyncope symptoms, which include rapidly increasing nausea, dizziness, tinnitus and blurred vision. All of the above is observed against the background of general weakness. Sometimes yawning and sweating may occur. The human epidermis acquires a waxy pallor. After which muscle relaxation is noted, the individual switches off and settles down. From the moment the first signs are discovered feeling unwell Most often, no more than sixty seconds pass before the fall. Therefore, first aid for loss of consciousness should begin immediately after the appearance of the onset precursors. After all, often the etiological factor is unknown.

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

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

Diagnosing loss of consciousness is not difficult. It is enough just to note the presence of such phenomena as lack of response to external stimuli, including pain, complete immobility, excluding convulsions. Moreover, the definition etiological factor often causes difficulty.

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

From laboratory tests, first of all, blood is drawn:

- for carrying out general analysis to detect the presence of anemia;

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

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

Various instrumental studies are also carried out:

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

- a type of electrocardiogram - daily monitoring myocardial rhythm;

— ultrasound examination cardiac muscle, helping to detect changes in cardiac contractility of the heart and establish the condition of the valves;

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

— computed tomography, allowing to identify brain pathologies;

— magnetic resonance imaging aimed at identifying damaged segments of brain tissue.

In order not to encounter the disorder in question in life, it is necessary to take preventive measures.

To prevent syncope, the ideal solution is regular exercise, which optimizes natural blood circulation and strengthens blood capillaries. It must be taken into account that any stress on the body, first of all, must be regulated and moderate. There is no need to try to break Olympic records in the first lesson. The main thing here is systematicity, not intensity. In addition, an evening promenade will not only minimize the risk of loss of consciousness, but will also increase the body’s overall resistance to various ailments and stress.

Aromatherapy also occupies not the last position in the list preventive measures acceptance. Regular aromatherapy helps relieve convulsions, spasms, improve blood circulation, and saturate the blood with O2.

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

You forgot to prepare for test work? Do you have an event planned but would like to avoid it? In this case, you can feign fainting. Whether you want to divert the attention of others or get out of an awkward situation, the steps outlined in this article will help you fake fainting.

Steps

How to portray fainting believably

    Find out about possible reasons fainting. Fainting is a fairly common disorder that affects many people. The reason can be either completely harmless or represent serious danger. Before you pretend to faint, you should learn about relatively harmless factors that can lead to fainting. Fainting is caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.

    Learn about the symptoms of fainting. Typically, people experience certain symptoms that precede loss of consciousness, such as high fever, nausea, confusion and confusion, and rapid breathing. The person may also experience dizziness or weakness, ringing in the ears, or temporary hearing loss. These symptoms are often experienced before fainting.

    Choose a harmless reason for your fake fainting. If you are not pretending to faint on a theater stage, you should come up with a plausible reason for your weakness so that those around you will not think of calling an ambulance, and after fainting you can quickly come to your senses and leave them without arousing suspicion. Since harmless fainting is usually associated with low blood pressure and insufficient blood flow to the brain, there are several scenarios that can lead to this type of fainting.

    • Decreased blood pressure may be caused by a feeling of hunger: for example, you did not have time to have breakfast or were very hungry after your last meal. Lack of fluid can lead to dehydration, reducing blood flow to the brain.
    • When you are outside in hot weather or in a stuffy room, you may say that you are hot. You can also pretend that you are very worried about some unpleasant event. If you sometimes get scared by insects or loud noises, you can feign fear by hyperventilating and then pretend to faint.
    • If you let a friend in on your plan to fake fainting, he may suddenly tap you on the shoulder, causing you to briefly lose consciousness. From the outside, this technique may look a little graphic and have some consequences for your assistant, but it good way pretend to faint, which does not pose a danger to health.

  1. Plan for your fainting. To ensure that your fake fainting does not cause unexpected consequences and leads to the intended results, it must be carefully planned. The goal you want to achieve will determine where you faint. You may not be able to predict exact time of his false faint. However, you need to reliably control the conditions under which it occurs so as not to injure yourself or cause unintended consequences.

    • What exactly are you trying to avoid? A friend's wedding? An exam you didn't prepare for? Or do you need to sing in front of a large audience and you feel unprepared for it?
    • To minimize the likelihood of a fiasco, you should feign fainting in the presence of only a few witnesses. Fainting in front of many people may cause one of them to see through the deception; In addition, in this case, your fainting will attract undue attention, and you will not be able to quickly retreat.
    • You should also not pretend to faint in the heat of the moment. important events, where many people are present, such as your friend's wedding ceremony, an awards ceremony, or an exam. Plan events so that your fainting occurs before the start of the event you would like to avoid participating in.

  2. Anticipate the conditions under which your feigned fainting will occur. Will you stand or sit? What are the best symptoms to depict before fainting? Where exactly will you fall when you faint? How long will you remain in a supposedly unconscious state? Think through all these points.

    • It is important to practice falling into a false faint in advance. You should not think that everything will work out the first time, without preparation: when the time comes to pretend to faint, you may be afraid of falling and hitting your head, or, having started to breathe rapidly, you will not be able to stop smiling. Practice falling so that you can do it as safely as possible and eliminate the possibility of injury.
    • Have a plan in place to ensure everything goes smoothly when it comes time to fake fainting in front of others.

  3. Plan your care. You will need to pretend to be unconscious for just a few seconds, no more than 20 seconds. When a person falls to the floor or leans against something so that the head is at the level of the heart, blood flow to the brain is immediately normalized and consciousness returns.

    • After pretending that you have regained consciousness, do not immediately jump up and act as if nothing happened. Sit still for a few minutes - this is how long it usually takes to recover from a real faint. Don't forget about this important point.
    • You should not pretend to faint during a time-limited event, expecting to immediately leave after fainting. Be prepared to also reassure those around you by explaining to them that nothing serious happened, that you are completely fine and are able to get up and leave on your own, after which you will leave as quickly as possible.

    Fainting in a public place

    1. Set the stage for your performance. Now that you are properly prepared, it’s time to pretend to faint so that no one doubts its veracity. Arriving at the scene, make sure that everything is in order and nothing will interfere with your plans.

      • Are there enough witnesses, and are they the people you expected to be present? Is there an event that you would like to avoid attending? Are there too many people around?
      • After making sure that everything is in order, go to the place you have chosen to fake fainting. In the case of real fainting, quite a short time passes between the appearance of preliminary symptoms and loss of consciousness.
      • Make sure there are no dangerous objects nearby that could injure you if you fall. Also make sure that you don't hit anyone when you fall.

    2. Complain to others about the symptoms that usually precede fainting. Once properly prepared, begin to depict the relevant symptoms. No more than a few minutes should pass between their manifestation and fainting itself. If you chose not having breakfast as the reason, complain that you are very hungry. If the room is crowded and stuffy, you can complain that you are very hot. If you are walking, slow down, touch your forehead with your hand, and tell others that you are feeling dizzy. At the same time, you can close your eyes. Complain of nausea. Feign sudden weakness and say that you feel uneasy. Demonstrate symptoms for 1-2 minutes.

      Take the place you have planned for fainting. Showing the appropriate symptoms and trying not to attract undue attention to your movements, go to the place you have chosen to fall. If you're going to pretend to faint while sitting, pretend you're having trouble standing and sit down. Say you're feeling uneasy and feel like you need a glass of water or a breath of fresh air.

      • You can ask someone to open the window. If there are no windows nearby and getting water is also problematic, simply tell them that you need to sit down or go out into the fresh air. After sitting for a while, try to get up slowly. After this, stumble a little and fall forward. Before you do this, say something like “I just...”. If the phrase is not very short, interrupt it mid-sentence.

    3. Pretend to faint. Make sure you fall safely again. You should not hit your head, hurt yourself or get hurt. If you are standing, bend your knees and touch the floor as you fall before falling onto your side. Act quickly enough, but not as if you were struck by lightning, otherwise your fainting will look unrealistic.

      • If you are sitting, relax and imagine that you are actually losing consciousness. Pretend to faint and fall from your chair to the floor.
      • Try to land on your butt rather than your hip or tailbone. After this, quickly lower yourself to the floor with your whole body. Close your eyes and completely relax all your muscles: just relax.
      • Act as if you have no bones, sinking to the floor with a relaxed body. This will make your fainting sound believable.

    4. Pretend that you have lost consciousness for a few seconds. Lie motionless on the floor. You should completely relax; if someone lifts and shakes your hand, relax it completely, and when they release it, just let it fall freely back to the floor. This is a routine check in case of fainting. Unconscious people have no control over their limbs. If anyone is helping you with your venture, have them check your condition to rule out any surprises.

      • Don't stay on the floor for too long, otherwise someone will have time to call an ambulance. If you don't want this to happen, stay still for no more than 20 seconds.

    5. Open your eyes and take a deep breath. Many people wake up after fainting and have no memory of it. Tell those around you that all you remember is how hot you felt and how the lights seemed to go out in the room.

      Squat down slowly and after a few seconds stand up on your own or have someone help you to your feet. As you rise, you may begin to sway a little, and those around you, noticing this and fearing that you might faint again, will rush to your aid. At the same time, if they ask you about your condition, try to reassure them by telling them that you feel much better.

      After a false faint, try not to linger. Stay for another ten minutes, pretending to come to your senses after what happened. Then excuse yourself by saying you are going home to rest or are going to see the doctor. You may be asked to accompany you - in this case, thank and politely say that you are able to get there on your own.

    • When you open your eyes after fainting, do not immediately start talking. Look around confused for a few seconds, then ask what happened. If you open your eyes and immediately start chattering, it won't look real.
    • If you doubt that you will be able to portray everything properly, make sure that there are 1-2 people nearby who can see your fainting; however, they should not be too close so as not to notice anything suspicious.
    • Don't smile or giggle during the whole action, otherwise your behavior will look implausible.
    • You'll likely need to practice to get it looking real. Find a way to fall that won't cause you pain or discomfort by practicing beforehand on a carpet or with your shoes off on a wide bed.
    • If you decide to fall forward, do not put your hands in front of you under any circumstances. This is a defensive reflex, and to overcome it it is better to practice in advance.
    • If you are afraid of falling quickly and are afraid of hurting yourself, pretend to faint near something you can lean on. Sometimes people, starting to lose consciousness, feel that something wrong is happening and try to grab onto something so as not to fall. However, after a fall, you should release the support. Grabbing onto something, even for a moment, will slow your fall and reduce the risk of injury.
    • Practice fainting on a soft carpet or, better yet, on a bed with your shoes off.
    • Try pretending to faint near a wall that will cushion your fall.
    • If you fall in an open area, first make sure that you do not hit anyone or anything, as this may lead to unpleasant consequences and injuries.
    • Most often, fainting consists of a loss of complete, but not all, control: for example, with a gradual loss of consciousness, a person sinks to the floor slowly, rather than collapses on it in a sheaf.
    • Just before you fall, place one foot with your toe slightly inward - this will allow you to quickly drop to your knee, after which you can fall onto your side.
    • Consider letting someone in on your plans. In this case, they will be able to help you if you fall, preventing possible injuries.
    • First, bend your knees to touch the floor before lowering your upper body.
    • Those present may begin to tug and shake you, trying to bring you to consciousness. Do not smile or laugh at the same time, so as not to give yourself away, for which it is better to practice in advance.
    • Remember to keep your eyes closed.

    Warnings

    • If immediately after fainting you go to active actions, this will seem strange. Sit for a while, resting your head on your knees and as if coming to your senses.
    • Do not use this technique repeatedly or overdo it, otherwise people will think that you have serious health problems and call an ambulance.
    • When fainting, make sure that there is enough free space around you and that you will not hit anyone or anything, as this can lead to injury. Be careful!
    • Don't pretend to faint in an attempt to fool the police and avoid arrest. This will lead to more O Greater problems.
    • Do not hyperventilate, otherwise you will have to call an ambulance. If you're planning to fake faint, don't pretend to be breathing fast for too long, or your heart rate will increase noticeably.
    • Don't ask "what happened?" immediately after feigning fainting. This common cliché is often unconvincing. However, it is quite possible to ask this question to someone present a few minutes after the incident, perhaps adding something like “Do I really look unwell?”