Fainting

Fainting is a sudden short-term loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Fainting can occur as a result of strong mental stress (excitement, fright, fear); from severe pain due to renal, hepatic, intestinal colic; with heat or sunstroke, as well as with a sharp transition from a horizontal to a vertical position.

More often, fainting occurs in people who are tired, hungry, or have had an infectious disease. In addition, fainting can be a symptom of a number of acute disorders of the heart or central nervous system.

Loss of consciousness during fainting may be preceded by weakness, dizziness, darkening or flickering in the eyes, tinnitus, numbness of the arms and legs. Often the attack is limited to these sensations and complete loss of consciousness does not occur.

A sharp pallor of the skin appears, the eyes wander and close, the patient falls; The pupils constrict, then dilate, and do not respond to light. The limbs are cold to the touch, the skin is often covered with cold, sticky sweat, the peripheral collapsed veins are barely visible, and the pulse cannot be felt. Breathing becomes rare and shallow.

With mild degrees of fainting, unconsciousness lasts 1-2 minutes or less. In other cases, fainting may last longer. In the absence of pronounced changes in the cardiovascular system, fainting ends safely: consciousness returns, pale skin disappears, breathing and pulse normalize. However, weakness, weakness, malaise and headache may remain for several hours.

If a person faints, it is necessary to lay him down with his head bowed low, loosen tight clothing, and open the windows in the room to allow fresh air to enter. Apply a towel soaked in cold water to your face and chest, sniff cotton wool soaked in ammonia, vinegar, cologne, rub your temples with these products, warm your feet with heating pads or rub them with something hard.

After regaining consciousness, you need to give hot, strong tea or coffee. If consciousness is not restored after the measures taken, it is necessary to call an ambulance. After fainting of any intensity, you should definitely consult a doctor for appropriate advice.

Fainting is a short-term loss of consciousness, accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure and often a disturbance in cardiac activity. It is caused by cerebral ischemia. According to ICD 11 (International Classification of Diseases 2006, 1st edition), fainting belongs to category 74.86 - “Principles and diseases of the general circulation, subheading R37 - Other circulatory disorders.”

In children, fainting usually develops with certain infectious diseases, poisoning and others.

Fainting is a pathological condition in which the intensity of blood supply to the brain decreases, which in turn leads to a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the brain tissue until complete cessation and the development of ischemia. The disorder is caused by functional disorders and usually occurs after physical or emotional stress as a response of the brain to its overstrain.