When you’ve ever fainted on the sight of blood or from standing up too quick, you have skilled what’s often known as vasovagal syncope, the most typical explanation for fainting. As much as a 3rd of individuals have skilled an episode of vasovagal syncope sooner or later of their lives.
Occasional episodes of vasovagal syncope are not often a trigger for concern. But when they occur typically, it is a good suggestion to see a health care provider to rule out extra critical underlying causes.
What’s vasovagal syncope?
Vasovagal syncope happens when the vagus nerve, which carries indicators from the mind to the remainder of the physique and controls features together with coronary heart charge and blood stress, turns into overstimulated in response to triggers similar to stress, dehydration, or donating blood. The guts charge slows and blood vessels widen, inflicting a drop in blood stress and lowered blood stream to the mind. This may result in a lack of consciousness.
Mendacity or sitting down (and even falling) rapidly restores blood stream to the mind, permitting blood stress to return to regular. Most individuals regain consciousness inside a couple of seconds after passing out.
Whereas vasovagal syncope is just not life-threatening in itself, it will probably result in critical accidents because of falling.
Widespread triggers of vasovagal syncope
Widespread triggers of vasovagal syncope embody:
- extended standing
- standing up too rapidly from a sitting place
- having blood drawn or donating blood
- the sight of blood
- dehydration
- intense ache (similar to from a again spasm)
- sudden emotional stress or bodily trauma.
Much less widespread triggers of vasovagal syncope embody coughing, straining to have a bowel motion, or urinating whereas standing up (in males).
Signs of vasovagal syncope
Fainting attributable to vasovagal syncope is commonly preceded by feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Your pores and skin could really feel chilly and clammy and you might black out or have blurry imaginative and prescient. When you’re standing up, you’ll lose management of the muscular tissues in your decrease physique and can stoop or fall down.
How you can handle syncope for those who’re liable to fainting
If in case you have fainted earlier than and acknowledge the indicators, listed below are some issues you are able to do to revive blood stream to the mind earlier than you really go out.
- Lie down and elevate your legs.
- Cross your legs and tense the muscular tissues within the legs, stomach, and buttocks.
- Make a fist, or grip a rubber ball or one thing else that you may simply wrap your hand round.
- Sit down and put your head between your legs.
If you realize your triggers, take preventive measures to keep away from fainting or to keep away from falling for those who do faint. For instance, if having your blood drawn is a set off, ask to lie down throughout the process. When you’ve fainted earlier than attributable to dehydration, ensure you drink sufficient water or different liquids all through the day.
When to see a health care provider
See your physician when you have recurrent fainting episodes or for those who expertise confusion or coronary heart palpitations throughout an episode. Your supplier could need to rule out different causes of fainting. When you additionally expertise chest ache or shortness of breath, name 911 immediately.
Not all fainting is expounded to the vasovagal nerve. Different widespread causes embody coronary heart issues, low blood sugar, panic dysfunction, seizure problems, neurological problems, substance use problems, and a few prescription drugs.
Therapy choices for recurrent syncope
Basically, one of the simplest ways to keep away from fainting attributable to vasovagal syncope is to keep away from your triggers, acknowledge warning indicators, and undertake prevention methods for those who do really feel warning indicators approaching.
If the underlying explanation for your fainting episodes is just not associated to overstimulation of the vasovagal nerve, your physician will possible advocate additional testing. In that case, therapy will handle the underlying trigger.
