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Symptoms late period. Late Period: Understanding Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Medical Advice

What are the common reasons for a late period beyond pregnancy. How can stress, exercise, and hormonal imbalances affect menstrual cycles. When should you consult a doctor about irregular periods.

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Common Causes of Late Periods

A late or missed period can be concerning, especially if you’re usually regular. While pregnancy is often the first thing that comes to mind, there are numerous other reasons why your menstrual cycle might be delayed. Understanding these potential causes can help alleviate anxiety and determine if medical attention is needed.

Stress and Lifestyle Factors

Stress is a significant factor that can disrupt your menstrual cycle. When you’re under stress, your body produces stress hormones from the adrenal gland, which can inhibit the production of sex hormones essential for regular menstruation. Other lifestyle factors that may cause late periods include:

  • Significant changes in weight (both loss and gain)
  • Excessive exercise, particularly intense cardio or weightlifting
  • Travel and changes in time zones
  • Lack of sleep or disrupted sleep patterns

Hormonal Imbalances and Medical Conditions

Various hormonal imbalances and medical conditions can lead to irregular or late periods. Some common examples include:

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Thyroid disorders (both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism)
  • Diabetes
  • Celiac disease
  • Pituitary tumors

These conditions can affect the delicate balance of hormones in your body, leading to menstrual irregularities. If you suspect an underlying medical condition, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Birth Control and Contraceptive Methods

Various forms of birth control can affect your menstrual cycle, especially when you first start using them. Some contraceptive methods that may cause late or irregular periods include:

  • Birth control pills
  • Hormonal patches
  • NuvaRing
  • Progesterone IUDs
  • Contraceptive injections
  • Arm implants

These methods work by altering your hormonal balance, which can lead to changes in your menstrual cycle. It’s not uncommon to experience irregular bleeding or missed periods, particularly in the first few months of use.

Age-Related Factors Affecting Menstrual Cycles

Your age can play a significant role in the regularity of your menstrual cycle. Two specific life stages are particularly prone to menstrual irregularities:

Adolescence and Early Menstrual Years

When a young woman first begins menstruating, it’s common for her cycles to be irregular. It can take several years for the body to establish a regular pattern. During this time, late or missed periods are not unusual and generally not a cause for concern.

Perimenopause and Approaching Menopause

As women approach menopause, typically in their 40s or early 50s, their menstrual cycles may become irregular. This transitional phase, known as perimenopause, can last for several years and is characterized by fluctuating hormone levels that can lead to unpredictable periods.

Symptoms Mimicking Early Pregnancy

When a period is late, many women experience symptoms that are similar to early pregnancy signs. These can include:

  • Mild uterine cramping
  • Breast tenderness or fullness
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Mood swings
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

These symptoms are primarily caused by increased levels of progesterone, which occurs both in early pregnancy and during the premenstrual phase of a regular cycle. This similarity can make it challenging to differentiate between a late period and early pregnancy without a test.

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

If your period is late and you’re sexually active, taking a home pregnancy test is a reasonable step. But when is the best time to take one for accurate results?

Most home pregnancy tests are designed to detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This hormone is produced after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, which typically occurs about 6-12 days after conception. For the most accurate results, it’s generally recommended to wait until you’ve missed your period before taking a test.

However, some highly sensitive tests claim to detect pregnancy up to 5 days before your missed period. If you choose to test early, keep in mind that a negative result doesn’t definitively rule out pregnancy. You may want to retest a few days later if your period still hasn’t arrived.

Monitoring Your Menstrual Cycle

Keeping track of your menstrual cycle can help you identify patterns and notice when something is amiss. Here are some tips for effective cycle tracking:

  1. Use a calendar or mobile app to mark the first day of each period
  2. Note the length of each cycle (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
  3. Record any symptoms you experience throughout your cycle
  4. Pay attention to changes in cervical mucus, which can indicate ovulation
  5. Consider tracking your basal body temperature if you’re trying to conceive

By consistently monitoring your cycle, you’ll be better equipped to recognize when a period is truly late and whether it’s cause for concern.

When to Consult a Healthcare Provider

While occasional irregularities in your menstrual cycle are normal, there are situations where it’s advisable to seek medical advice. You should consider consulting a healthcare provider if:

  • You have a positive pregnancy test
  • Your periods have been irregular for three consecutive months
  • You haven’t had a period for three months in a row
  • You experience heavy bleeding or severe pain during your periods
  • You have concerns about your fertility or are trying to conceive
  • You notice any unusual symptoms accompanying your late period

A healthcare provider can help determine the underlying cause of your menstrual irregularities and recommend appropriate treatment or further testing if necessary.

Maintaining Menstrual Health

While some factors affecting your menstrual cycle may be beyond your control, there are steps you can take to promote overall menstrual health:

  • Maintain a balanced diet rich in nutrients essential for hormonal balance
  • Engage in regular, moderate exercise
  • Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
  • Get adequate sleep (7-9 hours per night for most adults)
  • Stay hydrated
  • Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption
  • Consider supplements like iron or vitamin B complex if recommended by your healthcare provider

By prioritizing your overall health and well-being, you can support your body’s natural rhythms and potentially reduce the frequency of menstrual irregularities.

Understanding Ovulation and Fertility

Ovulation is a crucial part of the menstrual cycle, typically occurring about 14 days before the start of your next period. Understanding ovulation can help you better predict your periods and, if desired, plan for or avoid pregnancy.

Signs of Ovulation

Common signs that you may be ovulating include:

  • Changes in cervical mucus (becoming clearer and more slippery)
  • Slight increase in basal body temperature
  • Mild abdominal pain or cramping (known as mittelschmerz)
  • Increased sex drive
  • Breast tenderness
  • Light spotting

Tracking these signs can help you become more attuned to your body’s natural cycles and potentially identify reasons for late periods.

Fertility Window

The fertility window is the time during your menstrual cycle when you’re most likely to conceive. This window typically includes the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Understanding your fertility window can be helpful whether you’re trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy.

It’s important to note that while tracking ovulation can be useful, it’s not a foolproof method of contraception. If you’re sexually active and not trying to conceive, using reliable birth control methods is essential, even if you think you’re outside your fertility window.

Debunking Common Myths About Late Periods

There are many misconceptions surrounding late periods and menstrual health. Let’s address some common myths:

Myth: You can’t get pregnant during your period

While it’s less likely, it is possible to get pregnant during your period, especially if you have a short menstrual cycle or long periods. Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for up to 5 days, potentially leading to fertilization if ovulation occurs shortly after your period ends.

Myth: Irregular periods always indicate a serious health problem

While persistent irregularities should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, occasional variations in your cycle are normal and often due to benign factors like stress or lifestyle changes.

Myth: You can’t get pregnant if you have irregular periods

Irregular periods can make it more challenging to predict ovulation, but they don’t necessarily prevent pregnancy. In fact, women with irregular cycles may be at higher risk of unintended pregnancy due to the unpredictability of their fertile window.

Myth: Late periods always mean you’re pregnant

While pregnancy is a common cause of missed periods, there are numerous other reasons why your period might be late, as we’ve discussed throughout this article.

Understanding these myths can help you make more informed decisions about your reproductive health and when to seek medical advice.

Coping with Menstrual Irregularities

Dealing with irregular periods can be frustrating and sometimes anxiety-inducing. Here are some strategies to help you cope:

  • Keep a detailed menstrual diary to identify patterns and potential triggers for irregularities
  • Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises
  • Maintain open communication with your healthcare provider about your concerns
  • Consider joining support groups or online communities for women with similar experiences
  • Educate yourself about menstrual health and hormonal balance
  • Be patient with your body and remember that some variation is normal

Remember, every woman’s body is unique, and what’s normal for one person may not be for another. If you’re concerned about your menstrual health, don’t hesitate to seek professional medical advice for personalized guidance and support.

Late period? Here are potential reasons beyond pregnancy | Omaha

Question:

I’m supposed to get my period and I haven’t been this late before. Could I be pregnant? What are symptoms of early pregnancy? When should I see a doctor?

Answered by OB-GYN Karen Carlson, MD:

There are many reasons why a woman’s period can be late, ranging from common hormonal imbalances to stress to pregnancy. Additionally, it is quite common to have late cycles both right after a teen begins having periods and when a woman is about to end or near menopause. A menstrual cycle is considered normal if it ranges between 21 and 35 days. Many women have times during their reproductive years when they have late or irregular periods. In fact, this is the most common reason that women seek care from a gynecologist. Stress, low or high body weight, excessive exercise, use of birth control, chronic diseases, early menopause, and other hormonal problems are just some examples that may cause periods to be late. Let’s take a look at some of these in more detail. 

When we feel stressed, our body produces stress hormones from the adrenal gland. These hormones can inhibit the production of sex hormones from the ovary, which are essential to maintain regular menstrual cycles. Additionally, too much exercise, for example with long and frequent running sessions or intense weightlifting, can also decrease estrogen levels and make periods late or sometimes stop altogether. Many forms of birth control, including pills, patches, NuvaRing, progesterone IUDs, shots and arm implants, especially near the beginning of use, can make periods irregular or late. 

More concerning causes of late periods include chronic diseases and hormonal problems. Diabetes, thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, celiac disease and pituitary tumors are common diseases and hormonal problems that can cause irregular or late menses (blood and other matter discharged from the uterus at menstruation). When periods are late, many women will have some mild symptoms similar to early pregnancy, including mild uterine cramping. The breasts may feel heavier and fuller or be tender to the touch. Nausea, constipation, mood swings, dizziness and fatigue may be experienced. These symptoms are caused by increasing levels of the hormone progesterone, and they occur in both early pregnancy and the premenstrual portion of the cycle. Because of this similarity, when a period is late for other reasons, a woman may still have some early symptoms of pregnancy, due to the higher levels of progesterone. It is reasonable to take a home urine pregnancy test with a late period to differentiate. 

Many women have a time in their reproductive years when their periods are late or irregular. It is time to call a doctor if you have a positive pregnancy test, if the abnormal bleeding pattern continues for three consecutive months, or if there is no menstrual bleeding for three months in a row.

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How Late Can a Period Be Before You Know You’re Pregnant?

Home » Eugene OR How Late Can a Period Be

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Is a late period a sign of pregnancy? If you usually have regular periods and your period is overdue by less than three days, you may be pregnant and your period might be considered delinquent. Late periods can result from a variety of factors, such as lifestyle modifications and medical problems.

If you notice that your menstruation is running late! Book your next appointment with Dr. Beyerlein, Gynecologist, and Obstetrician. Contact us or visit us online to book your next appointment. We are located at 10 Coburg Rd STE 100, Eugene, OR 97401.

Table of Contents:

What is a late period?
How many days late can a period be before worrying about pregnancy?
Is there a possibility of getting pregnant just after my period has finished?
What are the symptoms of ovulation?
How early can I know my symptoms of pregnancy?

What is a late period?

The majority of people have a little variation in their periods, although a few people may have pinpoint predictability. You should not worry if your period is a couple of days late. One month you may have a 28-day cycle, and the next month you may have a 26-day cycle. It’s possible that your period is late if it has been more than 38 days since your last period or if your cycle is very consistent and your period is more than three days late.

The first sign of pregnancy is usually a missed period, but there are other reasons for lateness. These include stress, extreme diet or exercise, hormonal contraceptives, and various health conditions. It is important to seek care in order to discover the cause of a late period as it may indicate serious health concerns of pregnancy.

How many days late can a period be before worrying about pregnancy?

Keep track of your period over several months to see if there are any changes in your cycle. As a result, you’ll be able to determine what a “normal” menstrual cycle looks like for you. In most cases, if your period hasn’t started within seven days of when you expect it (most pregnancy tests will also be accurate by this point) it’s considered late.

Is there a possibility of getting pregnant just after my period has finished?

It’s possible to become pregnant shortly after your period, but it’s not very likely. During or just after your period, you can conceive (get pregnant) if you have sex without using contraception. Getting pregnant is also possible if you have never had a period before, during your first period, or after your first-time having sex.

No safe time of the month exists when you can have sex without contraception without risking pregnancy. It is most likely that you will conceive during times of your menstrual cycle when you are most fertile.

What are the symptoms of ovulation?

Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg that is mature. During ovulation, a woman is most fertile. Around day 14 of the average 28-day cycle, counting from the first day of one period to the first day of the next, ovulation typically occurs.

Since cycles may last anywhere from 23 to 35 days, and even your own cycle and ovulation time may vary slightly from month to month, there’s a wide range of normal.

Symptoms of ovulation include the cervix softening and opening, slight pain or mild cramps in the lower abdomen, cervical mucus growing thinner and clearer, and your basal body temperature fluctuating. Additionally, sex drive may also increase, the vagina or vulva may appear swollen, and light spotting can occur.

How early can I know my symptoms of pregnancy?

Depending on the person and the pregnancy, early pregnancy signs vary. You may not notice any symptoms at all or feel changes in your body before you realize you’re pregnant. A missed period, frequent urination, tender breasts, fatigue, and morning sickness are all symptoms of early pregnancy.

Depending on how soon you become pregnant, you might feel pregnant within a few days or weeks after you take a positive pregnancy test. Symptoms of pregnancy vary from person to person and even from pregnancy to pregnancy. It is possible to feel pregnant before you miss your period. Approximately one week before missing a period, some people report feeling pregnancy symptoms.

Individuals in Eugene, OR, experiencing a late period who wish to find out why can seek care at Dr. Richard Beyerlein’s health clinic for all OBGYN services. Contact us through our website to book your next appointment today. We serve patients from Eugene OR, Springfield OR, Coburg OR, Creswell OR, Cottage Grove OR, Lowell OR, and Junction City OR.

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Suite 100 Eugene, OR 97401

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Positional Compression Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Positional Compression Syndrome is a complex of symptoms that occur in soft tissue injury caused by prolonged compression by one’s own body weight. It develops in the absence of primary damage and is most often associated with the unconscious state of the patient. The syndrome is characterized by purple spots, abrasions and superficial necrosis of the affected area of ​​the body, signs of kidney dysfunction. Diagnosis includes a thorough history taking and examination of the patient, blood and urine tests, ultrasound and radiography of the affected area. Treatment involves extracorporeal detoxification methods, infusion therapy, symptomatic drugs.

General information

The disease was first described in 1754 in Vienna during the autopsy of the bodies of those who died during a fire. The true frequency of positional compression syndrome (SPS) has not been established. This is due to the difficulties of its diagnosis during the initial examination and the hushing up by the victims of the conditions of the injury, if it appeared as a result of severe alcohol or drug intoxication. The severity of the immediate and long-term consequences of SPS require practitioners to improve care protocols and develop more effective methods of treatment.

Positional compression syndrome

Causes

Positional compression syndrome is defined by many authors as a compression injury. Most cases of SPS are associated with the unconscious state of the victim, due to which the person is not able to control the position of his body and can be in an uncomfortable position for hours. The reasons for this condition are:

  • The use of surfactants. The most common cause of pathology is considered to be excessive intake of alcohol or its surrogates, which cause deep intoxication and loss of consciousness. SPS also develops with drug intoxication, especially with the introduction of opiates, tranquilizers and other substances with a strong sedative effect.
  • Intoxication. Poisoning with loss of consciousness is characteristic of inhalation of carbon monoxide and exhaust gases. This situation happens during a fire, a long stay in an unventilated garage. Much less often, the cause of positional compression is intoxication with nitro dyes and other toxic substances.
  • Traumatic brain injury. Severe brain damage accompanied by prolonged loss of consciousness. If a person is not helped in time, he falls in an uncomfortable position and stays in it for a long time.

Pathogenesis

General and local changes are distinguished in the mechanism of SPS development. General disorders are caused by the action of the etiological factor of the disease, which leads to acid-base imbalance, deterioration of microcirculation, hypothermia of the body. These causes are superimposed on an unconscious or comatose state, causing severe local changes in the affected tissues.

The key point of pathogenesis is considered to be the deterioration of blood supply to tissues, which causes the formation of myoglobin. Normally, it is found only intracellularly, the largest amounts of pigment are found in skeletal and cardiac muscles. With positional compression syndrome, myoglobinemia and myoglobinuria occur. Excess pigment accumulates in the renal tubules and clogs them, causing acute renal failure.

Positional compression syndrome

Classification

In practical traumatology and resuscitation, 5 periods of the disease are distinguished: acute, early, intermediate, late and the stage of long-term results. They are important for predicting possible symptoms and their timely treatment in order to prevent the development of complications of SPS. Of great importance for practitioners is the classification by severity, according to which the syndrome is divided into 3 degrees:

  • Light. Occurs when small areas of the body are affected: forearms, lower legs, head. With mild severity, the time of positional compression does not exceed 6 hours.
  • Medium. It develops when extensive areas of the body are affected: thighs, upper or lower limbs completely. The duration of compression increases to 6-10 hours.
  • Heavy. Manifested with massive compression of one or more parts of the body. The compression time is 10-24 hours: the longer the compression syndrome lasts, the worse the prognosis for the patient.

Symptoms

In the clinical course of the positional compression syndrome, 5 periods are distinguished, which successively replace each other. In the first (acute) phase, intoxication, loss of consciousness and other signs are observed, depending on the specific etiological factor. Most patients develop a coma that lasts from several hours to several days. This period is characterized by various changes in the compressed tissues and throughout the body.

The second (early) stage shows symptoms of tissue damage. Most often, the upper and lower limbs are subject to compression. On examination, red-bluish spots on the skin are observed, occasionally they are covered with abrasions, small hematomas and areas of maceration. With prolonged compression, detachment of the epidermis is determined with the formation of vesicles that are filled with a cloudy or bloody liquid. Patients complain of pain, a feeling of fullness, numbness of the limb.

After the pressure is eliminated, blood begins to actively flow to the limb, which is externally manifested by edema. The tissues are sharply tense, the skin becomes pale and cold. Puffiness is accompanied by compression of the arteries, therefore, in the distal extremities, the vascular pulsation is sharply weakened or not detected at all. Such symptoms are complemented by a sharp limitation of mobility, which is associated with severe pain and swelling.

The early stage of positional compression is accompanied by endogenous intoxication. Immediately after leaving the coma, general malaise, lethargy, nausea and vomiting appear. Characterized by an increase in temperature to subfebrile values. Patients experience shortness of breath, deafness of heart tones, dry mouth. Damage to the kidneys and other organs with the development of multiple organ failure marks the transition to the third (intermediate) period of the disease.

The fourth (late) stage of the compression syndrome is characterized by a gradual restoration of the functioning of all organs and systems. It begins within 10-25 days after soft tissue injury. With successful treatment, SPS enters the fifth phase – the period of long-term results. It lasts from 3 months to 2 years, is characterized by late consequences on the part of the affected limb, kidneys and other organs.

Complications

The main problem of positional compression syndrome is acute renal failure, which is associated with massive myoglobinemia. The development of acute renal failure 3 times increases the likelihood of death in the victim and correlates with an unfavorable long-term prognosis. Of great importance are the complications of the underlying disease or intoxication, which caused compression of the soft tissues of the body.

Diagnostics

Examination of the patient is carried out by an intensive care physician or a traumatologist, depending on the prevailing symptoms. A detailed history taking comes to the fore: it is necessary to clarify the circumstances that preceded the injury, find out the exact position of the victim, exclude chemical addictions and other risk factors. The following methods are used to diagnose positional compression syndrome:

  • Soft tissue ultrasound. Ultrasound diagnostics shows signs of damage to compressed muscles: blurring of the muscle pattern, absence of transverse striation, mosaic hypoechoic zones (foci of myolysis). To exclude venous causes of SPS, dopplerography of the vessels of the affected area is prescribed.
  • Radiography. X-ray imaging is informative to exclude dislocations and fractures, which, in combination with external skin lesions, give a similar clinical picture. With positional compression syndrome, radiographic changes are absent.
  • ECG. On the electrocardiogram, signs of hyperkalemia are determined: a change in the QT interval, an increase in T waves in the chest leads, single bigeminia and ventricular extrasystoles. The study is supplemented by ultrasound of the heart, in which pathological changes are not detected.
  • Biochemical blood test. The main diagnostic sign is an increase in blood myoglobin over 1000 ng/ml, which correlates with a high risk of kidney damage. An increase in blood creatinine indicates the development of renal dysfunction, in combination with reduced glomerular filtration, the diagnosis is confirmed.
  • Urinalysis. In SPS, urine has a specific gravity greater than 1015 and contains large amounts of myoglobin. Osmolarity is over 500 mosm/l, sodium level does not exceed 20 mmol/l. The ratio of osmolarity of urine and plasma is more than 1.1.

Differential diagnosis

When a patient with compression syndrome is admitted, a complex differential diagnosis is carried out between positional tissue compression and classic crush syndrome. Distinctive features of SPS are the absence of pain and traumatic shock, the lack of information about the patient getting under the rubble. Be sure to exclude venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, dislocation and fracture of the limb.

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Fasciotomy for SPS

Treatment of positional compression syndrome

In the prehospital stage, patients receive emergency care according to the generally accepted protocol. Medicines are prescribed to support cardiac activity and other vital functions. To eliminate the pain syndrome after the return of consciousness, injectable analgesics are used, according to indications – narcotic ones. The affected limb is tightly bandaged, it is immobilized and local hypothermia is carried out to prevent edema.

Further treatment is carried out in a hospital. Drug therapy includes infusion solutions, diuretics, extracorporeal detoxification (hemodialysis) for severe renal impairment. In case of poisoning with established poisons, specific antidotes are used. Surgical treatment in the scope of fasciotomy is recognized as irrational due to the high risk of secondary infection and the formation of keloid scars.

Prognosis and prevention

Long-term results of treatment depend on the severity of the positional compression syndrome, the degree of impaired renal function and the timeliness of treatment. Timely detected AKI is completely reversible, however, inadequate treatment of SPS at an early stage is fraught with chronic kidney disease. To reduce the likelihood of developing the syndrome, it is necessary to prevent alcoholism and drug addiction, control over working conditions in hazardous industries.

What you need to know about long-term pressure syndrome – Useful information

Prolonged compression syndrome (crash syndrome, SDS) is a life-threatening condition that occurs due to prolonged compression of any part of the body and its subsequent release, causing traumatic shock and often leading to death.

Manifested by pain, deterioration, swelling of the affected parts of the body, acute renal failure. Without medical assistance, victims die from acute renal failure, increasing intoxication, pulmonary or cardiovascular failure.

Two conditions contribute to the occurrence of this syndrome:

1) massive volume of compressed tissues;

2) long period of compression (40 minutes or more).

In the zone of compression, toxic products (free myoglobin, creatinine, potassium, phosphorus) are formed, which are not “washed out” by the liquid accumulated due to a mechanical obstacle to the circulation of its current. In this regard, after the elimination of the cause of compression, a systemic reaction of the body occurs – the products of destroyed tissues enter the bloodstream. So

poisoning of the body occurs – toxemia.

Prolonged compression syndrome (SDS) usually occurs in victims of landslides, earthquakes, collapses in mines, construction work, road accidents, logging, explosions and destruction of buildings and structures.

CAUSES OF PROLONGED PRESSURE SYNDROME

The syndrome of prolonged compression of soft, predominantly muscle tissues, develops as a result of a combination of three essential elements:

1) loss of the liquid part of the blood due to injury to vessels and other tissues;

2) development of pain syndrome, possibly shock conditions;

3) poisoning of the body with necrotic tissues and other toxic products formed during tissue decay.

SIGNS OF PROLONGED PRESSURE SYNDROME

The condition of a person at the time of discovery may be quite satisfactory, or it may be extremely difficult:

1) If a little time has passed since the start of compression, then the limb will be edematous, the skin will be pale and cold to the touch, the peripheral pulsation will be reduced or completely absent.

2) If the victim was under the rubble for a long time (4-6 hours or more), then the affected areas of the body may be red-bluish in color, strongly edematous, there is no pulsation of the vessels, movement of the limbs is impossible, attempts to move them cause severe pain.

FIRST AID FOR PROLONGED PRESSURE SYNDROME

When detecting victims who were under any squeezing objects, it is absolutely impossible to release the transferred limbs immediately. The principle of providing assistance is to prevent a volley release of toxins, that is, to “lock” them in a limb freed from the load, alternating the application of a tourniquet, removal of the load and tight bandaging at the same time as providing assistance with concomitant injuries and general anti-shock measures.

First of all, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet above the injury site, and only after that, carefully remove the objects under which the person has appeared. If you remove them immediately, without applying a tourniquet, toxic products formed during the massive destruction of muscle

tissue will enter the general circulation. This will cause damage to the kidneys, the development of acute renal failure, which can lead to the death of the victim before he can be delivered to a medical facility.

First aid before medical aid

The affected limb must be tightly bandaged, cooled as much as possible and immobilized, after removing clothes and shoes from it, if it is a question of the lower limbs.

Open wounds (abrasions, cuts) should be treated if possible.

If possible, give the victim painkillers, taking into account the possible allergic reaction of the victim’s body.

If the victim is conscious and there is no suspicion of abdominal trauma, then he can be given a drink.

The victim must be taken to a medical facility as soon as possible for qualified assistance. It should be noted that a note must be attached to the tourniquet, which will indicate the time of application.

If the time of the tragedy is unknown, provide standard first aid, a feature of which is the refusal to quickly release the pressure load.