Causes of loss of consciousness

Unconsciousness

Loss of consciousness (unconsciousness) is when a person is suddenly unable to respond to stimuli and appears to others to be asleep, and unconsciousness (fainting) occurs for only a few seconds or for longer periods.

The unconscious person never responds to loud sounds or shaking, so that he may stop breathing or have a weak heartbeat, and this condition requires direct medical intervention, so the faster the person gets treatment, the greater his chance of responding.

Causes of loss of consciousness

A person may lose consciousness as a result of a serious illness or as a result of complications from drug or alcohol abuse. Some of the common causes are:

• Exposure to a car accident.
• severe blood loss
• A blow to the chest or head.
• Overdose of drugs.
• Alcohol poisoning.

A person may develop a temporary (mild) loss of consciousness as a result of some sudden changes within his body, and some of these reasons include the following:

• Low blood sugar.
• Reduction of Blood pressure.
• Nausea (loss of consciousness due to lack of blood flow to the brain).
• Drought.
• Problems with the heartbeat.
• Neurogenic syncope (loss of consciousness caused by seizure, stroke, or transient ischemic attack).
• stress.
• panting.

Symptoms of unconsciousness

Some symptoms that may indicate that a loss of consciousness is about to occur:

• Sudden inability to respond.
• slurred speech
• Rapid heart rate.
• confusion.
• Dizziness or feeling light-headed.

First aid for unconsciousness

If someone loses consciousness, the following steps should be taken to help him:

• Checking his breathing, and if he is not breathing, you must call the emergency room immediately, but if he is breathing, he must make his sleeping position on his back.
• Raise the unconscious's legs at least 12 inches off the ground.
• Reducing the clothes or belts that restrict him, and if the person does not regain consciousness within a minute, an emergency call must be made immediately.
• Checking the person's airway to make sure there are no obstructions in it that prevent oxygen from reaching him.
• Check again whether the person is breathing, coughing, or moving, as these are the correct signs of life, but if these signs are not present, CPR must be done until the ambulance arrives.

How to treat unconsciousness

If the loss of consciousness is due to low blood pressure, the doctor will prescribe medication by injection to increase the pressure, but if the low blood sugar level is the cause, you must eat something sweet or do glucose injections. In the event that the fainting was due to exposure to some physical injuries, the ambulance and emergency staff must treat the wounds so that the person regains consciousness.