What should you know about vagal syncope treatment?

Vagal syncope, also called a vasovagal faint, happens when a reflex briefly lowers blood pressure and may slow the heart. Reduced blood flow to the brain can cause warmth, nausea, sweating, blurred vision, dizziness and then a brief loss of consciousness. Common triggers include prolonged standing, heat, pain, emotional shock, seeing blood or having a medical procedure. Fainting itself can cause injury, so the trigger and the circumstances matter.

A clinician may ask about warning symptoms, medicines, fluid intake, family history and what witnesses saw. An examination and heart tracing can help separate a reflex faint from other problems. Anaemia, dehydration, hypoglycaemia and Atrial Fibrillation can also cause dizziness or collapse and may need separate assessment.

At the first warning, lie flat and raise your legs if possible. If lying down is not practical, sit with your head lowered and tense the muscles in your legs, abdomen and arms. Move away from heat, loosen tight clothing and tell someone nearby. Do not stand quickly after feeling better; rest until your alertness and balance have returned. Regular fluids, meals and avoiding known triggers may reduce recurrences, but your clinician should guide changes if you have a heart or kidney condition.

Call emergency services if the person does not wake promptly, has trouble breathing, ongoing chest pain, a seizure-like episode, severe injury or new weakness or speech trouble. Seek prompt medical care for fainting during exercise, while lying down, with a racing or irregular heartbeat, or without any warning. Arrange an appointment after a first faint, repeated episodes or a fall, even when recovery was quick.

Ask what trigger is most likely, whether you need an electrocardiogram or blood tests, how to use physical counter-pressure manoeuvres, and which medicines or activities could increase your risk.