Why do I faint before my period?

Features of manifestation

Most often, fainting in women occurs against the background of algomenorrhea. This is a special condition in women that occurs during menstruation due to contractions of the uterus. It is accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen. In a mild form, the pain is moderate, so fainting is not observed. Fainting occurs with severe algomenorrhea, when the following negative signs appear against the background of severe pain:

• high body temperature;
• weakness in the body;
• severe dizziness and headaches;
• nausea and vomiting.

This condition forces the female body to turn on the defense mechanism. In this case, consciousness is temporarily turned off in order to survive the pathological process. How do you understand that if a woman faints, it was caused by menstruation? First of all, loss of consciousness occurs only during menstruation or before it begins.

What characteristic symptoms appear when fainting approaches? They depend on the woman’s age, as well as her individual characteristics. The following signs are often observed:

• noise or ringing in the ears;
• severe dizziness;
• tingling sensation in the body (especially in the limbs);
• the appearance of internal cold;
• the appearance of nausea;
• blurred vision;
• weakness in the legs (“cotton legs”);
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• pale skin (especially on the face);
• dilated pupils do not respond well to light.

At the same time, the woman’s legs give way due to decreased muscle tone and weakened reflex functions of the body.

Fainting or syncope is a short-term loss of consciousness associated with oxygen deprivation of the brain. Classified as a mild form of vascular insufficiency. Types of unconsciousness:

• vasovagal (the most famous type, associated with physical or psychological stress, caused, for example, by a hot shower or the sight of blood);
• emotiogenic (provoked by excessive emotions, such as fear or excitement);
• hypoglycemic (with a sharp drop in blood sugar levels);
• cardiogenic (occurs when there is a disturbance in the rhythm or functioning of the heart);
• intoxication (appears when poisoned by a harmful substance);
• anemic (when the natural flow of blood is disrupted).

Drug-induced syncope, a side effect of some medications, also occurs. Fainting before menstruation is more often associated with cardiogenic causes or a sharp decrease in blood pressure.

general information

If fainting occurs only once, there is no need to panic. This phenomenon is not considered a pathology, but there is a risk that in the future “critical days” will also be accompanied by fainting. Pain or anemia can trigger loss of consciousness. If possible, the “dangerous time” is best spent at home. When fainting recurs periodically, it is recommended to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Main provoking factors

There are the following reasons for the development of fainting during “critical days”:

• sharply decreased blood pressure;
• severe pain syndrome;
• decrease in hemoglobin;
• severe stress.

Specifics of the pathology

Fainting is a short-term loss of consciousness due to deterioration of blood microcirculation, which provokes poor blood flow to the brain structures. It is a mild form of a disease such as vascular insufficiency.

Fainting during menstruation is the body not having time to adapt to the loss of blood. The answer to the question “why do people faint during menstruation” is usually connected with this. This problem often occurs at the very beginning. Because of this, complaints appear: “I faint on the first day of my period.”

Indirect reasons:

• constant stress;
• strenuous physical activity.

Such syncope occurs only during menstruation and does not bother at other times.

Why you shouldn’t hesitate when dealing with syncope

Fainting can occur for various reasons. Depending on the factors that provoked the attack, its course also depends. But in any situation, the pathological condition leads to a short-term disruption of blood flow and blood supply to the brain, causing oxygen starvation.

Fainting should not be taken as a normal condition, especially if it occurs systematically. You should definitely consult a gynecologist, neurologist, or cardiologist.

How to identify presyncope

Signs of imminent syncope:

• sudden dizziness;
• darkening or “silver veil” in the eyes;
• manifestation of nausea;
• numbness, tingling sensation in the arms and legs;
• weakness in the legs;
• feeling of “coldness” inside;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• pale facial skin.

It is important to notice the approach of fainting in time to have time to sit or lie down. This will help protect you from falling and hitting your head.

Teenagers and adult women may experience fainting during their period. Reasons characteristic of such syncope:

• decreased blood volume;
• blood pressure decreases sharply;
• increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood (due to stuffiness in the room);
• decreased hemoglobin level.

The attack can cause severe pain during menstruation to the point of fainting. Infrequently, the cause is sudden fear. Fainting during menstruation from abdominal pain often occurs with severe PMS.

Possible consequences and help

It is very important to bring a person out of a state of fainting as quickly as possible. The longer he faints, the higher the likelihood of negative consequences. During fainting, the blood supply to internal organs and the brain is disrupted. As a result, oxygen starvation (hypoxia) occurs, which is especially dangerous for the functioning of the brain.

In addition, the cause of fainting in women during menstruation may be an unsafe disease that needs to be treated. Therefore, you should not treat fainting as a harmless condition. If it constantly recurs, then you need to consult an experienced doctor for help. This may require consultation with a gynecologist, cardiologist and neurologist.

If a woman faints, first aid should be provided immediately. It consists of carrying out the following actions:

1. 
   Avoid falling to the ground to avoid further injury.

2. If a woman loses consciousness, she should be placed on her back. In this case, her legs should be slightly higher than body level.
3. To bring the patient to consciousness, you need to give her a sniff of ammonia. To do this, a piece of cloth or cotton wool is soaked in the solution and brought to the nose of the unconscious person.
4. If necessary, you should unbutton your clothes or remove them to ensure oxygen saturation of your lungs.
5. Your feet need to be insulated and your face cooled. To do this, place a warm heating pad or a bottle of warm water on your feet, and wipe your face with a cool, damp towel.
6. It is necessary to ensure access of fresh air to the room in which the patient is located. For this purpose, open windows, vents or doors.
7. After the woman has regained consciousness, she needs to be warmed with a warm blanket. You should also give her tea with sugar.

After fainting, a woman needs to be provided with rest for 1-2 hours. If she falls during a fainting spell and is injured, she should be taken to a medical facility to receive appropriate assistance and undergo an examination.

To prevent fainting during menstruation, a woman is recommended to:

• eat properly and nutritiously;

• 
  take vitamin complexes that replenish the body’s need for vitamins and microelements;

• drink more fluids (to prevent dehydration);
• do not overwork;
• avoid stressful situations;
• limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on critical days and stop smoking.

Fainting during menstruation can occur in women due to pain that appears due to uterine spasms. Sometimes fainting is caused by pathological processes (blood loss, dehydration) or diseases (anemia, diabetes). In case of syncope, a woman should be given first aid, and if necessary, consult a doctor to find out why fainting occurs. If the cause is one or another disease, then it must be treated.

A woman should not be left alone until medical help arrives. It is important to monitor her condition and monitor her pulse and blood pressure.

If a teenager faints, you should:

1. Do not let you fall (support, offer to sit down or lie down in a faint state).
2. Ventilate the room (allow oxygen to enter), unfasten or remove tight clothing.
3. Afterwards, give them a drink of water or sweet black tea to calm you down.

In most cases, syncope ends on its own after 30-60 seconds. It is strictly forbidden to slap a person hard on the cheeks, pour water on his face, or let him smell ammonia.

Alternative treatment for syncope

You can also fight fainting with the help of traditional medicine recipes. Simple reflex remedies will help the victim quickly regain consciousness. As an additional treatment, the doctor may recommend restorative therapy, which involves the use of herbal ingredients. Often it allows you to eliminate the cause and symptoms of the pathology.

Treatment of syncope attacks involves the use of the following:

1. Chicory.
2. Juniper.
3. Forest birch.
4. Eleutherococcus.
5. Ginseng.
6. Garden nettle.
7. Schisandra (tinctures).
8. Peppermint.

Herbs are recommended for use in preparing herbal infusions. Gentian is very effective for fainting. To make a therapeutic and prophylactic remedy that helps with fainting, you will need:

• grass – 2 teaspoons,
• boiling water – 200 ml,
• combine the ingredients together
• leave for 30 minutes, filter,
• use the remedy 30 minutes before meals, 100 ml 3 times a day.

After an attack, the victim should be given freshly brewed strong black leaf tea or chamomile decoction. In the absence of problems with the heart muscle, a woman can drink coffee without sugar or cognac. This will restore blood circulation.

Do I need to see a doctor if I experience regular fainting?

If such a symptom occurs for the first time, you must consult a doctor. You need the advice of a gynecologist, and, if necessary, other specialists. Diagnostic methods:

• collecting anamnesis (data about menstruation, its regularity, duration and frequency of fainting);
• examination (pressure measurement, auscultation and percussion of the heart and lungs);
• comprehensive examination (general analysis and blood glucose, ECG).

If it is necessary to exclude the risk of disease, additional studies are prescribed.

When you need to see a doctor urgently

Fainting occurs as a result of impaired metabolic flow and blood circulation, resulting in neuronal hypoxia. The causes of an attack are different, and are not always physiological. Fainting may indicate the presence of serious pathological factors in the body, such as:

• somatic diseases;
• neurotic diseases;
• malignant neoplasms;
• atherosclerosis of the vessels of the head;
• heart diseases;

Fainting often occurs in the presence of heart pathologies

• aneurysm of the vessels of the head;
• massive blood loss;
• blood diseases;
• arterial pathology;
• low blood pressure;
• high blood pressure;
• cardiopsychoneurosis;
• intoxication with poisons;
• diabetes;
• infectious course in the body.