Vasovagal Syncope Symptoms and Prevention

Vasovagal syncope is actually the most common type of fainting, and although it often recovers quickly and shows no abnormalities upon examination, it is easy to overlook. However, once experienced, it is likely to recur, and losing consciousness in dangerous places such as stairs or railings can lead to serious injuries, so caution is needed to prevent recurrence.

 

Vasovagal syncope occurs when stimuli such as stress cause an excessive activation of the vagus nerve, a part of the parasympathetic nervous system within the autonomic nervous system. As a result, blood pressure drops and heart rate slows, temporarily stopping or reducing blood flow to the brain, leading to loss of consciousness and fainting.

 

Vagal Syncope Symptoms and Management

 

When vasovagal syncope begins, symptoms such as sudden chest tightness, difficulty breathing, nausea, weakness throughout the body, and cold sweat first appear. Soon after, the patient feels as if the vision is darkening and loses consciousness, collapsing. In this case, it is helpful to first move the patient to a safe place and massage their hands and feet to promote blood circulation. Fortunately, most cases recover consciousness naturally after rehydration, but even in this case, it is best to rest sufficiently at the scene before moving.

 

Prevention of Vasovagal Syncope

 

Once symptoms occur, they are prone to recur, so caution is necessary. The methods to prevent vasovagal syncope are as follows.

 

△ Avoid excessive stress.

△ Avoid standing still for long periods without moving.

Avoid places with stuffy or enclosed narrow spaces.

Avoid excessive exercise and warm up or cool down your body before and after workouts.

△ Adequate hydration prevents low blood pressure.

Do not hold in urine or other bodily fluids, and when urinating, sit down.

If dizziness or nausea occurs, sit down immediately.

 

In addition to this method, a simple way is to stand with one foot in front of the other to form an X shape, or to sit and cross one leg over the other. These actions can raise blood pressure and help prevent fainting caused by low blood pressure.