Have you ever passed out after going through a situation that generates solid emotional stress? It is most likely a vasovagal syncope, which is one of the most frequent medical phenomena and, therefore, can occur to many people at some point in their lives.
Although it is not a condition to be concerned about in most situations because most of them are benign, it always produces great concern for the affected person and the people present at that time. Due to its high frequency, it is essential that everyone has knowledge about how to identify vasovagal syncope and what to do if they witness one, and that is why at FastlyHealwe bring you this article about vasovagal syncope: causes and treatment.
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Causes of vasovagal syncope
It is known as vasovagal syncope or fainting, common to the most common cause that produces loss of consciousness. It is due to the existence of a stimulus that causes stress in the affected person, which has stimulation of a nerve called “vagus nerve,” decreasing the heart rate and increasing the volume of the blood vessels, causing a deficiency in the arrival of blood and therefore of oxygen to the brain, whose final manifestation is fainting.
The stimuli that produce vasovagal syncope can be very varied, and it depends a lot on each person; something that affects one person is not always going to affect someone else. These stimuli are generally related to anxiety, fear, or a feeling of threat.
The most common situations that produce vasovagal syncope are, for example, the presence of own or other blood, sudden frights or emotions, pain, going to a doctor’s appointment, and, in general, any situation that makes the affected person feel like in a threat.
Do you have recurring fainting spells? In the following FastlyHealarticle, we answer the question Why am I fainting?
Symptoms of vasovagal syncope
Symptoms felt before vasovagal syncope are characterized by being easily identifiable:
In the first phase before syncope, the affected person usually feels:
- A feeling of heat and sweating even if you are in a relaxed environment.
- Pale skin
- Ringing in the ears
- Hyperventilation
- Salivation
- Urge to urinate
- Sickness
- Dizziness
The second phase of syncope follows this before the final painting:
- The visual field begins to shrink, turning dark from the periphery to the center until completely obscuring the view, which usually coincides precisely with the loss of consciousness.
- Those affected are usually on their feet when they lose consciousness and suddenly collapse to the floor. At this time, the affected person has a high probability of injuring himself depending on the force of the fall, the type of ground, or if an object with which he could hurt himself is interposed in the trajectory of his fall.
The person who has suffered a vasovagal syncope usually comes to consciousness by being very disoriented and having little recollection of what has happened. In rare cases, the lack of oxygen in the brain can cause brief seizures.
What to do if someone has vasovagal syncope
Although it is primarily a benign condition, it is essential to know the care that should be applied to a person who has suffered a vasovagal syncope to overcome the episode as soon as possible.
- First of all, breathing and pulse should always be checked to ensure that it is syncope and not cardiorespiratory arrest, in addition to making sure that the tongue has not moved into the throat, obstructing the pathway. Aerial.
- Considering that vasovagal syncope is due to the scarce arrival of oxygen to the brain, it is to be assumed that the fastest way to overcome the episode is to promote the reversal of this situation. The easiest way to do this is by placing the affected person lying on their back and raising their legs higher than the head level so that the blood in the legs flows more quickly to the head.
- The person can be encouraged to regain consciousness in several ways. A widespread alternative is to bring strong-smelling substances to the nose, such as ammonia, vinegar, alcohol, or perfumes. Mild pain can also be induced in the patient to stimulate protective reflexes that regain consciousness, such as light pinching or slapping.
When the symptoms that lead to vasovagal syncope are detected promptly, loss of consciousness can be avoided by applying the maneuvers above and removing the affected person from the situation producing the episode.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.