Fainting, the causes of which will be discussed below, is not a disease. It is expressed in a short-term loss of consciousness. This condition is caused by an acute decrease in cerebral blood supply, accompanied by a violation of cardiovascular activity. Its scientific name is syncope. Consider further why fainting may occur. The symptoms of syncope will also be described in the article.
Classification
First of all, it should be said that even a he althy person is not immune from fainting, so one should not rush to consider it as a sign of any serious pathology. However, if syncope occurs, it is necessary to consult a specialist. In practice, there is a distinction between real syncope and states resembling it. The first include:
- Neurocardiogenic form.
- Orthostatic collapse. This fainting state is caused by a slowdown in the blood flow to the brain when the body abruptly moves to a vertical position from a horizontal position.
- Arrhythmogenic syncope. He is considered the mostdangerous. In this case, the prerequisites are morphological changes in the vessels and the heart.
- Loss of consciousness due to cerebrovascular disorders. These include changes in the vessels of the brain, circulatory disorders.
Some conditions are called syncope, but they are not considered syncope, despite the fact that they look very similar to it. These include:
- Loss of consciousness due to metabolic disorders. For example, glycemia - a decrease in glucose levels, hyperventilation with a decrease in carbon dioxide, oxygen starvation.
- Epileptic seizure.
- Ischemic transient attack of vertebrogenic nature.
Other shapes
Some conditions resemble fainting, but are not accompanied by loss of consciousness. Among them:
- Cataplexy - short-term muscle relaxation. The person in this case cannot keep balance and falls.
- Syncope states of psychogenic origin.
- Suddenly occurring incoordination of movements - acute ataxia.
- Transient attack associated with circulatory disorders in the carotid arteries (carotid pool).
Neurocardiogenic form
This is believed to be the most common fainting condition. The causes of its occurrence are not associated, as a rule, with changes in the heart and blood vessels. It is caused by the most common household factors. For example, fainting occurs intransport, stuffy room, due to stress. Syncope also occurs when performing various medical procedures. It is worth saying that blood pressure, which falls during fainting, in the normal state has a normal level. From this it follows that all the "responsibility" for the onset of an attack lies with the autonomic nervous system, in particular, its parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions. Under the influence of some circumstances, they cease to function in concert, dizziness and weakness begin. Fainting of this kind in adolescents and children makes parents feel anxious. At the same time, the words that syncope is not caused by serious pathologies do not usually reassure adults. It is worth saying that in many ways the fears of parents are fully justified. Fainting is accompanied by a fall, which in turn can lead to serious injury.
Basic Prerequisites
Fasco can occur for a variety of reasons. They can be serious and, in general, banal. Among the main prerequisites, it should be noted:
- Heat. The concept of "high temperature" is interpreted by different people in different ways. Some feel quite normal at 40 degrees, and for some, even 25-28 is already unbearable heat, especially indoors. As a rule, such fainting occurs in transport in the summer. The situation is complicated by factors such as a large crowd of people, different smells.
- Prolonged lack of water and food. Quite often people who aspire tolose weight quickly or are forced to significantly reduce the amount of food taken.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, fluid loss.
- Feeling anxious with rapid breathing.
- Pregnancy. It is accompanied by a variety of disorders. Among them - a decrease in pressure, frequent urination, nausea. Fainting during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence. Moreover, it is syncope that often indicates it.
- Food poisoning. Shock and pain often accompany dizziness. Fainting can be caused by a nervous shock.
- Rapid blood loss. Often, donors lose consciousness during blood donation. This happens not because a certain amount of fluid has left the vessel, but because the body failed to turn on the defense mechanism in time.
- The kind of blood or wound. It is worth saying that in these cases men lose consciousness more often.
- Side effects of certain medications.
Pathological conditions
These include:
- Hypovolemia. When the volume of circulating blood decreases rapidly due to the use of vasodilators and diuretics, the person loses consciousness.
- Decreased sugar content (hypoglycemia).
- Anemia (anemia).
- Heart attack, subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- A number of endocrine pathologies.
- Large formations in the brain that impede blood supply.
More oftenonly changes in the functioning of the vascular system associated with a decrease in pressure lead to fainting. In such situations, the body does not have time to turn on protection in a short time, to adapt to the conditions. The pressure drops, the heart does not have time to increase its output, the blood, accordingly, will not bring the necessary amount of oxygen to the brain.
Signs of fainting
First of all, a person becomes ill. As a rule, patients characterize their condition with such a word. Next comes cold sweat. Then nausea begins, legs give way. Outwardly, pale skin is observed. In the ears begins to ring, before the eyes - flies flicker. Before losing consciousness, dizziness begins. Fainting sets in fairly quickly. The person loses consciousness. At the same time, his face has a grayish tint. His pressure is reduced, the pulse is weak and usually rapid. However, bradycardia (slow rhythm) is not excluded. The patient's pupils are dilated, but the reaction to light is present, albeit belatedly. Usually after a few seconds the person comes to his senses. If the attack lasts longer (from five or more minutes), convulsions and involuntary urination may occur. Unknowing people may think that an epileptic seizure has begun.
What to do?
Often, recovery occurs without medical assistance (if there are no injuries and the syncope was short-lived). However, it is necessary to alleviate the post-fainting state. If the person is unconscious, do the following:
- Splash water (cold) on your face.
- Transfer the victim to a horizontal position. At the same time, you need to put a pillow or roller under your feet so that your head is lower than their level.
- Loosen the tie, unbutton the collar, providing air access.
Many eyewitnesses immediately begin to grab the ammonia. But it must be borne in mind that it must be handled very carefully. In particular, it is impossible to bring a cotton swab moistened with ammonia very close, since a sharp inhalation of vapors can cause a reflex cessation of breathing. As for emergency care, its provision is associated to a greater extent with the elimination of the cause of fainting or its consequences (TBI, cuts, bruises, etc.). Meanwhile, one should not hope to find out the prerequisites for a protracted syncope without having the appropriate education. Acute fainting may be associated with serious vascular pathologies. In this regard, the most reasonable way out is to call an ambulance.
Diagnosis
First of all, the victim is examined. In the course of it, the characteristics of the body are determined, the pulse, pressure (on both hands) are measured, heart sounds are heard. In addition, neurological pathological reflexes are detected, the activity of the nervous autonomic system is examined. Laboratory diagnostics involves taking traditional general urine and blood tests, the latter also for sugar. Some biochemical tests are also performed depending on the possible diagnosis. At the initial stage of diagnosis, the patient is given an electrocardiogram. If necessaryradiographic methods are used.
Main Events
When the arrhythmogenic nature of syncope is suspected, the focus is on the heart. In particular, the following are performed:
- Veloergometry.
- Ultrasound.
- X-ray of the heart, contrasting of the esophagus.
- Holter monitoring.
In stationary conditions, special methods for studying cardiac pathologies can be used. If it is assumed that syncope is caused by organic lesions of the brain or the cause of its occurrence is vague, the set of diagnostic procedures is greatly expanded. Activities listed above can be added to:
- X-ray of the skull, cervical region, Turkish saddle.
- Examination by an ophthalmologist.
- Electroencephalogram, monitoring including if there is a suspicion of an epileptic origin of seizures.
- Echoencephaloscopy.
- Doppler ultrasound (for vascular pathology).
- MRI, CT in the presence of hydrocephalus, space-occupying formations.
Therapy
Treatment and prevention of fainting will depend on the cause of their occurrence. At the same time, the doctor does not always recommend medication. For example, in orthostatic and vasovagal conditions, first of all, work is done with a psychologist. The specialist teaches the patient to avoid situations that cause syncope. In addition, vascular tone training and hardening are recommended. You need to try to be less in closed and stuffy rooms,avoid rapid changes in body position. In some cases, men are advised to urinate while sitting. Syncope due to a decrease in blood pressure is usually treated with drugs that increase blood pressure. The cause of the condition is also taken into account. As a rule, it is caused by neurocirculatory dystonia. Accordingly, in such situations, drugs are prescribed that affect the nervous autonomic system. Much attention is paid to repeated fainting. They may be arrhythmogenic. It must be remembered that they increase the risk of sudden death.
Conclusion
It is impossible to speak unambiguously about the danger or harmlessness of syncope. Until the cause of fainting is identified, and seizures periodically disturb a person, it is rather difficult to predict something. How high the risk is can only be determined through a comprehensive study.
