Unconsciousness or fainting is a severe disturbance of a person’s consciousness in which he or she is no longer capable of communication and does not respond in any other way to his or her immediate environment.
What is unconsciousness?
In medicine, different degrees of severity are distinguished with regard to unconsciousness. These range from mild fainting to apparent death. Unconsciousness is a widespread phenomenon. Every day, people suddenly wake up on the floor and cannot remember either the fall or the impact. Unconsciousness usually occurs very suddenly and can affect men as well as women – it even does not stop at children. Unconsciousness, also known as syncope in technical jargon, usually leaves victims, as well as observers and first responders, with a great deal of shock, as the sudden “blackout” cannot be properly classified. About 20% of all people experience unconsciousness at least once in their lives. Therefore, it is all the better to know how to behave in such a case and how to prevent fainting. Take care of yourself after unconsciousness. But how to recognize unconsciousness? This includes, for example, that the unconscious person does not react to the approach of another person, because he is no longer able to show orientation over space and time. But not only the communicative ability of the unconscious person is massively limited, but he also shows no reactions to stimuli, so that neither feelings nor pain are to be expected. In medicine, different degrees of severity are distinguished with regard to unconsciousness. These range from mild fainting to apparent death.
Causes
Unconsciousness may be due to a variety of causes. It is also not uncommon for there to be complexes of causes, meaning that several causes act together to cause a loss of consciousness. Unconsciousness occurs as soon as the brain is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen and blood. It can occur very suddenly and unprepared, but in many cases it is already announced by loss of orientation or dizziness. The frequency of unconsciousness also varies from person to person. The reasons why the brain can no longer be adequately supplied are numerous. In about 10% of cases, neurological disorders, such as a disease of the nervous system, are the trigger. In 20% it has physical causes, such as lack of oxygen or hypoglycemia. 30% are triggered by disorders of the cardiovascular system. In almost 40% of cases, however, the cause cannot be determined. In case of fainting, a doctor should therefore be consulted immediately. Although unconsciousness is usually harmless, in some cases it can be life-threatening. Never underestimate unconsciousness. The fact is, however, that the main cause can be traced back to a disorder of the central nervous system. Both circulatory disorders and bleeding within the brain can be responsible for this. The latter usually occurs in the case of a stroke. Other causes can also be inflammations or tumors of the brain. Here, however, also the brain does not always have to be the supporting cause of unconsciousness, since also poisonings, drastic experiences or also the metabolism can cause the unconsciousness.
Diseases with this symptom
- Pulmonary emboliet
- Heart attack
- Epilepsy
- Circulatory collapse
- Low blood pressure
- Concussion
- Heat stroke
- Aneurysm
- Encephalitis
- Hypoxia
- Alcohol intoxication
- Hypovolemia
- Hypoglycemic shock
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Anemia
- Circulatory disorders
- Anaphylactic shock
- Stroke
Complications
In unconsciousness itself lies its most feared complication. Unconsciousness is classified according to its duration. Brief unconsciousness that occurs as a result of reduced blood flow to the brain is called syncope. If unconsciousness lasts longer, this is called coma.This coma, i.e., the prolonged (often indefinite) loss of consciousness, is a feared complication of unconsciousness per se. If the unconsciousness lasts only for a short period of time, there is usually no permanent damage. In coma, on the other hand, which may well be seen as a complication even though it is a degree of unconsciousness in itself, patients show no response to strong stimuli for a long period of time, are unresponsive, and have no spontaneous breathing. Coma can last for years. In some cases, the patient does not “wake up” from the coma, but dies in this state. In other cases, there is no longer a prospect of awakening, whereupon the life-sustaining measures required in coma are discontinued. Other complications that accompany unconsciousness but are not direct consequences of it are, above all, injuries. The onset of unconsciousness often results in a fall, during which the patient may sustain injuries. In addition, other hazards exist depending on the situation in which the patient loses consciousness.
When should you go to the doctor?
Cases of unconsciousness are always a reason to see the doctor as soon as possible. At best, the doctor is consulted immediately after unconsciousness has occurred – regardless of how long or short it lasted and whether or not the person appears to be well afterward. Unconsciousness can, of course, have harmless causes, such as hypoglycemia or severe mental stress. Likewise, it can indicate serious physical illnesses that would go unrecognized if they were not detected. Undetected unconsciousness also carries the risk of recurrence. Of course, there is no way to predict when it will happen and in what situation in everyday life. If it happens at home, the affected person is usually safe. However, if unconsciousness occurs while driving or operating heavy machinery, the case is different. With this in mind, it is also important to consult the doctor in every case of unconsciousness. Otherwise, it cannot be ruled out that it will not happen again and that the affected person will get off lightly once more. If, after a survived episode of unconsciousness, there is drowsiness, head injury, dizziness or changed behavior, the next way is immediately to the emergency room or call an ambulance immediately. These phenomena are not only unpleasant, but indicate a serious cause of unconsciousness.
Treatment and therapy
Unconsciousness should always be examined by a physician. He or she will perform some diagnostic steps with you to better sort out your fainting spells. If an accurate diagnosis is made, he or she will refer you to a specific specialist. Cardiac arrhythmias very often cause unconsciousness, but can only be relieved surgically in rare cases. In the case of neurological disorders, such as stress, a change in lifestyle can alleviate the seizures. In most cases, however, the causes of unconsciousness cannot be determined or, even if diagnosed, are often not medically curable. The greatest risks of unconsciousness are injuries from falls or similar accidents. Many sufferers also become socially isolated because of frequent unconsciousness, lose their jobs or suffer from depression. That is why you should always get a check-up in case of unconsciousness. The first action a caregiver should take after diagnosing unconsciousness is to touch the patient directly. This is because if the affected person remains unresponsive even after being forcefully touched, this has undoubtedly occurred. Further leading measures include placing the affected person in a stable lateral position, loosening constricting clothing and also turning the head sideways. Furthermore, the emergency services should be called immediately.
Outlook and prognosis
Unconsciousness should be treated immediately by a physician. If someone becomes unconscious, an ambulance should be called immediately, and the person must then be taken to the hospital. In most cases, unconsciousness occurs only briefly and does not lead to other more serious problems. It is a sign of weak circulation or some other malfunction in the body. In the hospital, the affected person must first recover.He also receives injections that supply the body with important nutrients. Only in very few cases is there a long period of unconsciousness; most people wake up from this state relatively quickly. If an accident has occurred beforehand, it can also occur in a few cases that the person falls from unconsciousness into a coma. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict how long the coma will last and whether the person will wake up from it. The affected person has to deal with headaches and a general fatigue after unconsciousness. It is not uncommon for unconsciousness to be followed by a fall, during which the head is often struck. Here, wounds may remain after the fall.
Prevention
Unconsciousness requires a quick response. When unconsciousness comes unexpectedly, there is no time to react. However, if you suffer from clear signs beforehand, you can still try to prevent unconsciousness. To do this, lie down directly and put your legs as high as possible. This will prevent you from falling and sustaining more serious injuries in the event of unconsciousness. Do not try to ignore the symptoms out of shame in public situations and do not act directly. Approaching unconsciousness is too dangerous behind the wheel of a car or while driving large machinery such as at work. On the other hand, with this posture you also stabilize your circulation, as the blood from your legs flows back to your heart, which can improve your blood pressure. Oxygen is thus transported to your brain faster and better. As a rescuer, you should also immediately place an unconscious person in this position and immediately alert an emergency physician if the person does not wake up within 30 seconds. The physical risk is great in unconsciousness.
What you can do yourself
Unconsciousness is usually due to a circulatory weakness. This often announces itself. Therefore, if you know the signals that your body sends before such a circulatory weakness, you can react and possibly avoid unconsciousness. In addition, there are a number of behaviors to avoid putting unnecessary strain on the circulatory system. Anyone who notices that unconsciousness is approaching should sit down or lie down if possible. If unconsciousness is imminent in such a position, the following applies: Do not stand up too quickly, seek support. Do not make jerky movements of the head. Signs of syncope may include: Nausea, compulsive yawning, dizziness, blackness before the eyes. The signs vary from person to person. It is advisable to write them down so that you can interpret them correctly in the future. In general, one should avoid situations that can promote unconsciousness. These include stress, very warm rooms, standing for long periods of time and, of course, drinking alcohol. Medication can also promote syncope. Therefore, the rule is: only take medication in a real emergency. Oxygen is always a good remedy for unconsciousness. So if symptoms develop: Get out into the fresh air as quickly as possible and breathe in and out slowly. Counterpressure maneuvers also help if circulatory weakness is developing. Firmly tightening the muscles of the buttocks, for example, or pressing the fingers of both hands together will stabilize the circulation and allow the moment of shock to pass quickly.
