Vasovagal Syncope



Vasovagal SyncopeEver pass out or feel extremely faint? What’s happening in the body during an event like that? One factor that can contribute to fainting spells, passing out, or blacking out can be stimulation of the vagus nerve, a condition also known as vasovagal syncope. The vagus nerve extends from the brain all the way down gastrointestinal tract and into the abdominal organs. When stimulated the vagus nerve can cause the blood pressure to drop and the heart rate to fall. This decrease in heart rate and blood pressure can result in the common symptoms associated with fainting. They include the following:

  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • weakness
  • feeling hot
  • sweating profusely
  • feeling a change in heart rate
  • potentially loss of consciousness
  • skin color becoming pale or washed out

Causes
So what can cause stimulation of the vagus nerve? Many times stimulation of the vagus nerve is situational, meaning people only become faint during specific situations. For some fainting can be associated with fear or panic like with having blood drawn or having a medical procedure performed. For others, it could be associated with activity like sudden movement, prolonged standing, moving from a seated position to standing too quickly, urinating or passing a bowel movement, or even coughing.

Usually this condition is not dangerous and most people will “come out of it” on their own. If you pass out and it’s never happened before it’s a good idea to get evaluated by a health care provider to ensure there aren’t any underlying problems present. One way to test for a vasovagal reaction is to perform a Tilt Test. For the Tilt Test an individual lays flat (back down) strapped to a table. The table is then moved into various positions from horizontal to vertical. A person with vasovagal syncope will experience dramatic changes in blood pressure and heart rate and may even pass out confirming the diagnosis.

Prevention
Once confirmed, the best treatment for vasovagal syncope is prevention. So how can it be prevented?

  • Don’t skip meals
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluid to maintain blood volume
  • Incorporate the herb licorice in the diet which can aid in water retention resulting in increase blood pressure

If experiencing symptoms try isometric exercises like crossing your legs and squeezing your muscles. Or try squeezing a stress ball or flexing your hands repeatedly. These exercises help contract the muscles which helps increase blood pressure and keeps levels from dropping too low. You can also try laying down flat to increase blood flow to the brain or drop your head between your knees if you are unable to lay flat.