Description

Vasovagal syncope (vay-zoh-VAY-gul SING-kuh-pee) occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers. These may include the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. Vasovagal syncope is also called syncope neurocardiogenic.

The vasovagal syncope trigger causes your heart rate and low blood pressure. That leads to reduced blood flow to the brain, causing you to briefly lose consciousness.

Vasovagal syncope is usually harmless and requires no treatment. But it is possible that you may be injured during an episode of vasovagal syncope. Your health care professional may recommend tests to rule out more serious causes of fainting, such as heart disease.

Symptoms

Before you faint due to vasovagal syncope, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

  • Change in color of the skin.
  • The dizziness.
  • Tunnel vision — your field of vision is narrow so you can only see what is in front of you.
  • Upset stomach.
  • The warm sensation.
  • A cold, clammy sweat.
  • Blurred vision.

During an episode of vasovagal syncope, the people around you may notice:

  • The sudden movements.
  • A slow, weak pulse.
  • Dilation of the pupils.

The recovery after an episode of vasovagal usually begins in less than a minute. However, if you stand up too soon after the fainting — within about 15 to 30 minutes — you are at risk of fainting again.

When to see a doctor

Fainting can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a heart or brain condition. You may want to consult your health care professional after a fainting episode, especially if you have never had before.

Causes

Vasovagal syncope occurs when the part of the nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure overreacts to a stimulus. Common triggers include:

  • Standing for long periods of time.
  • Exposure to heat.
  • To see the blood.
  • The extraction of blood.
  • The fear of bodily harm.
  • The effort, as to pass stools.

Vasovagal syncope can happen without a trigger.

During an episode of vasovagal syncope, your heart rate slows and the blood vessels in the legs to expand. This allows the blood to pool in the legs, which decreases the blood pressure. The fall in blood pressure and a slow heart rate quickly reduce the blood flow to your brain, and faints.

Risk factors

The risk of vasovagal syncope may be greater in:

  • Children and young adults, although vasovagal syncope can occur at any age.
  • The people who are standing for long periods of time.

Prevention

You may not always be able to avoid an episode of vasovagal syncope. If you feel as if you might faint, lying down and raise the legs. This allows gravity to maintain the flow of blood to his brain. If you can't lay down, sit and put your head between your knees, until you feel better.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of vasovagal syncope often begins with a physical exam. During the physical exam, your healthcare provider listens to your heart and taking his blood pressure. Your health care professional may give massages to the main arteries in the neck to see if that makes you feel weak.

Your healthcare provider may also recommend several tests to rule out other possible causes of your fainting — in particular conditions related to the heart. These tests may include:

  • The electrocardiogram. This test records the electrical signals your heart produces. It is able to detect irregular heart rhythms and other cardiac conditions. You may need to wear a portable monitor for at least a day or as long as a month.
  • The echocardiogram. This test uses ultrasound to look at the heart and look for conditions such as valve problems that can cause fainting.
  • Exercise stress test. This test studies the rhythms of the heart during exercise. It is generally carried out while you walk or jog on a treadmill.
  • Blood tests. Your health care professional may look for conditions such as anemia, which may cause or contribute to cause fainting.
  • Tilt table test. If there is no heart conditions appear to cause of your fainting, your healthcare provider may suggest that you undergo a tilt table test. During the test, you lie on your back on a table that changes its position, the tilt-up at various angles. A technician monitors your heart rate and blood pressure during the test to see if the change in your posture affects them.

Treatment

In most cases of vasovagal syncope, treatment is unnecessary. Your health care professional can help you understand your fainting triggers and discuss ways to avoid them.

If vasovagal syncope interferes with your quality of life, your health professional may suggest that one or more of the following remedies:

  • Drugs. A medicine called acetate, fludrocortisone, which is typically used to treat low blood pressure may be useful in the prevention of vasovagal syncope. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can also be used.
  • Therapies. Your health care professional can recommend ways to decrease the clotting of the blood in your legs. These may include standing exercises, use of compression stockings or tensing the muscles of the legs when standing. You may need to increase the amount of salt in your diet if you usually do not have high blood pressure. Avoid prolonged contact of foot — especially in hot, crowded places and to drink plenty of fluids.
  • Surgery. Very rarely, the insertion of an electrical pacemaker to regulate the heart beat helps some people with vasovagal syncope who have not been helped by other treatments.

Preparing for your appointment

It is a good idea to prepare for your appointment to make the most of your time with your health care professional.

What you can do

  • Write down the details of your symptoms, including any triggers that may have caused you to faint.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Write down the questions you want to ask, including questions about possible treatments and tests.

What to expect from your doctor

Ask your health care professional can do include:

  • What were you doing just before you fainted?
  • What are the symptoms, if any, did you experience before you fainted?
  • Have you ever fainted before? If yes, what were you doing before you passed out then?
  • He has recently started taking a new medication?
  • Have you ever had a head injury?
  • Someone in your family died suddenly of a heart disease?
Symptoms and treatment of Vasovagal syncope