Fainting: Causes and Symptoms, First Aid to Man
Fainting is a loss of consciousness as a result of impaired cerebral circulation.
The brain ceases to receive the necessary oxygen, as well as nutrients, which leads to a sharp weakness and, as a result, to a loss of consciousness. Fainting does not mean that a person has "disconnected" completely.
Similar conditions are quite rare and are typical for serious diseases. Most often there is a strong clouding of consciousness and a sharp weakness, which looks like a fainting condition. Usually, loss of consciousness does not last longer than five minutes.
All causes that cause syncope are somehow associated with impaired cerebral blood flow.
Depending on the cause, syncope is divided into:
Some diseases, for example, anemia, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary hypertension, Parkinson's disease, renal or hepatic insufficiency, increase the risk of cerebral blood flow disorders, which often leads to a fainting condition. In addition, fainting often occurs as a result of alcohol and vapor poisoning of carbon monoxide.
Most often, unconscious, but characteristic sensations precede the loss of consciousness. A person begins to feel a sharp weight in the body, weakness, eyes can "dance" flies, and the blurred vision is due to a veil before the eyes. Skin covers change color quickly. The person pale, but his skin gives a gray tint.
To feel the pulse of a person who has lost consciousness is sometimes not possible due to his rarity and indistinctness. Reflexes are usually absent or mild. So, pupils of the person in a syncope hardly will react to light.
Syncope rarely lasts more than five minutes. In most cases, a person comes to his senses in a few minutes. But if the loss of consciousness lasts for a long time, then complication in the form of cramps can occur.
After fainting, when a person comes to, they may be disturbed by confusion and light dizziness, which soon goes away on their own.
Read also, concussion symptoms.
It is very important to provide adequate first aid to a person who has lost consciousness. First of all, it must be laid on a flat surface, with a little raised legs.
It is worth remembering that in this state a man relaxes the muscles of his tongue, which can lead to a breach of breath, so you should not lay your person on your back, but on your side. Tight clothes should be removed or, if possible, weakened by pressure. In addition, the room should be provided with fresh air. And most importantly - the injured person needs specialized help, so as soon as possible, call an ambulance.
It is a great misconception that a person who has lost consciousness should be given a sniff of ammonia to bring him to life. Doing this is highly discouraged. A person in a faint can not be tried to awaken with the help of smells, unpleasant sensations, cold water, etc. This rule is explained by the fact that there are quite a few reasons for fainting, and forcibly bringing a person to consciousness can only worsen his condition.
Although the fainting condition passes on its own within a few minutes, diagnosis and follow-up are necessary. Fainting in most cases are symptoms of a disease that can even threaten a person's life.
Diagnosis of syncope in order to identify their causes begins with the collection of information about a person, about his lifestyle, concomitant diseases, the time of the first faints and the symptoms that preceded him, etc. Such information gives the qualified doctor an opportunity to assess the patient's condition and determine the scheme of the furtherdiagnostics.
In most cases, such methods as electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and electroencephalography are used to diagnose syncope. In addition, a general blood test is performed, as well as blood biochemistry. In most cases, a person suffering from fainting requires the observation of different doctors.
Given that syncope in some cases occurs due to the disease, then therapy should be directed at treating the primary ailment. In addition, measures aimed at improving the life of the person as a whole, that is, adherence to proper nutrition, regular physical activity, rejection of bad habits, etc., will be useful.
If a person suffers from fainting too often, he should be careful abouthis condition, but most importantly - to his own safety. With fainting, various injuries are possible, so it is necessary to protect the house as much as possible, for example, covering the floors with soft carpets that will soften the impact.
In addition, relatives and relatives should not leave a sick family member alone to be able to pick it up when falling and provide first aid.
The brain ceases to receive the necessary oxygen, as well as nutrients, which leads to a sharp weakness and, as a result, to a loss of consciousness. Fainting does not mean that a person has "disconnected" completely.
Similar conditions are quite rare and are typical for serious diseases. Most often there is a strong clouding of consciousness and a sharp weakness, which looks like a fainting condition. Usually, loss of consciousness does not last longer than five minutes.
Causes of syncope
All causes that cause syncope are somehow associated with impaired cerebral blood flow.
Depending on the cause, syncope is divided into:
- 1) Neurogenic. They arise as a result of emotional stress, sudden changes in body position or excessive physical exertion. In any of these cases, the body can not quickly compensate for the decrease or increase in blood pressure, so there is a loss of consciousness.
- 2) Cardiogenic. They account for syncope associated with cardiac dysfunction, for example, with arrhythmia, tachycardia, micro-strokes.
- 3) Hyperventilation. It arises from the rapid breathing of a person, which can happen during a panic attack, during exercise, etc.
Some diseases, for example, anemia, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary hypertension, Parkinson's disease, renal or hepatic insufficiency, increase the risk of cerebral blood flow disorders, which often leads to a fainting condition. In addition, fainting often occurs as a result of alcohol and vapor poisoning of carbon monoxide.
Symptoms of syncope
Most often, unconscious, but characteristic sensations precede the loss of consciousness. A person begins to feel a sharp weight in the body, weakness, eyes can "dance" flies, and the blurred vision is due to a veil before the eyes. Skin covers change color quickly. The person pale, but his skin gives a gray tint.
To feel the pulse of a person who has lost consciousness is sometimes not possible due to his rarity and indistinctness. Reflexes are usually absent or mild. So, pupils of the person in a syncope hardly will react to light.
Syncope rarely lasts more than five minutes. In most cases, a person comes to his senses in a few minutes. But if the loss of consciousness lasts for a long time, then complication in the form of cramps can occur.
After fainting, when a person comes to, they may be disturbed by confusion and light dizziness, which soon goes away on their own.
Read also, concussion symptoms.
First aid in fainting
It is very important to provide adequate first aid to a person who has lost consciousness. First of all, it must be laid on a flat surface, with a little raised legs.
It is worth remembering that in this state a man relaxes the muscles of his tongue, which can lead to a breach of breath, so you should not lay your person on your back, but on your side. Tight clothes should be removed or, if possible, weakened by pressure. In addition, the room should be provided with fresh air. And most importantly - the injured person needs specialized help, so as soon as possible, call an ambulance.
It is a great misconception that a person who has lost consciousness should be given a sniff of ammonia to bring him to life. Doing this is highly discouraged. A person in a faint can not be tried to awaken with the help of smells, unpleasant sensations, cold water, etc. This rule is explained by the fact that there are quite a few reasons for fainting, and forcibly bringing a person to consciousness can only worsen his condition.
Diagnosis of
Although the fainting condition passes on its own within a few minutes, diagnosis and follow-up are necessary. Fainting in most cases are symptoms of a disease that can even threaten a person's life.
Diagnosis of syncope in order to identify their causes begins with the collection of information about a person, about his lifestyle, concomitant diseases, the time of the first faints and the symptoms that preceded him, etc. Such information gives the qualified doctor an opportunity to assess the patient's condition and determine the scheme of the furtherdiagnostics.
In most cases, such methods as electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and electroencephalography are used to diagnose syncope. In addition, a general blood test is performed, as well as blood biochemistry. In most cases, a person suffering from fainting requires the observation of different doctors.
Treatment of syncope
Given that syncope in some cases occurs due to the disease, then therapy should be directed at treating the primary ailment. In addition, measures aimed at improving the life of the person as a whole, that is, adherence to proper nutrition, regular physical activity, rejection of bad habits, etc., will be useful.
If a person suffers from fainting too often, he should be careful abouthis condition, but most importantly - to his own safety. With fainting, various injuries are possible, so it is necessary to protect the house as much as possible, for example, covering the floors with soft carpets that will soften the impact.
In addition, relatives and relatives should not leave a sick family member alone to be able to pick it up when falling and provide first aid.