Vasovagal can sometimes cause a heart block, most specially when referring to atrioventricular AV block, as vasovagal syncope involves the sudden drop in your heart rate and your blood pressure as a result of an overactive vagus nerve, which can also affect your AV node and lead to a temporary heart block.
This kind of heart block is most often temporary and will resolve on it's own in most cases, although in some cases it might cause significant symptoms or even require medical attention.
A vasovagal attack is also called vasovagal syncope, which is a type of fainting which is caused by a sudden drop in your blood pressure and drop in your heart rate.
The sudden drop in blood pressure and sudden drop in heart rate results in a brief loss of consciousness due to a temporary lack of blood flow to your brain.
Vasovagal attacks are triggered by a misfire in your body's autonomic nervous system, which controls functions that are involuntary like blood pressure and heart rate.
The misfires can be triggered by emotional distress, anxiety, fear or pain, prolonged standing, straining during a bowel movement, sight of blood or needles or injuries, low blood sugar or even dehydration.
Vasovagal syncope does eventually go away on it's own within a few minutes, although in some people it may be a chronic condition that requires ongoing management to treat.
Some people only experience vasovagal syncope occasionally and others experience it more often.
While it's not always a serious issue, you should see a doctor or seek medical attention if the vasovagal syncope occurs too frequently or if you have any chest pain or shortness of breath with the vasovagal syncope.
To do deal with vasovagal syncope ensure you're getting enough fluid intake by drinking enough water and even some electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade or pedialyte.
And if you feel faint you should lay down and elevate your legs or even sit down and lower your head between your knees.
If you've fainted, you should rest for a bit after you've regained consciousness before you attempt to stand back up.
Stay hydrated, eat enough food and and avoid standing too long.
Doing foot exercises, tensing your leg muscles when standing and wearing compression stockings can also help you deal with and manage vasovagal syncope.
Vasovagal syncope is the most common form of syncope, which is the medical name for fainting.
Vasovagal is the term that refers to the specific mechanism of the fainting, in which the nervous system's regulation of your heart rate and blood pressure malfunction.
Drinking water can help with vasovagal syncope and can reduce the severity of vasovagal syncope.
Remaining adequate hydration helps you maintain your blood pressure and blood volume, which is important to prevent fainting which occurs with vasovagal syncope.
Drinking water also increases tolerance to orthostatic stress, "standing up", which is a common trigger and cause of vasovagal syncope.
The cause of vasovagal syncope is a drop in your blood pressure and heart rate, which occurs when your vagus nerve, that controls certain bodily functions, becomes overstimulated.
Triggers of vasovagal syncope are heat exposure, standing for long periods of time, intense fear or intense pain, dehydration and seeing needles or blood.
Vasovagal syncope occurs when your heart rate slows down and your blood vessels wide, which leads to a drop in your blood pressure and also reduced blood flow to your brain.
To test for vasovagal syncope your doctor will review your medical history, perform a physical exam and do some specific tests like the tilt table test.
The tilt table test helps evaluate your body's response to changes in position and monitors your heart rate and blood pressure.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, which include the circumstances that surround your fainting episodes, and also any warning signs that you've experienced and your overall health.
For the tilt table test, you will be secured to a table which can be tilted from a horizontal, "lying down" position to a nearly upright position.
Your heart rate and your blood pressure will be monitored continuously throughout the tilt table test.
The doctor will also observe how your body responds to the changes in position, and look for a drop in blood pressure or heart rate which can indicate vasovagal syncope.
And in some cases, medication may be given to you to try and trigger the fainting response during the tilt table test.
Other tests that are done are an electrocardiogram test, EKG test to rule out other heart conditions that may be causing the fainting.
Holter monitor or event recorder tests will also usually be done by having you wear the device for a period of time to monitor your heart's rhythm during normal daily activities which include when you experience any symptoms.
And the ultrasound test which which is called an echocardiogram test will create images of your heart and allow doctors to assess your heart's structure and function.
Gatorade is good for vasovagal syncope and even other electrolyte based drinks including Pedialyte and Propel are good for vasovagal syncope as they increase your fluid intake and electrolyte levels.
Adequate electrolyte levels and proper hydration is crucial for maintaining your blood pressure and for preventing fainting, especially when it's triggered by prolonged standing or dehydration.
Vasovagal syncope is often triggered by dehydration and Gatorade, which is a fluid, can rehydrate your body and replenish your body's needed water levels.
The electrolytes like potassium and sodium in Gatorade also are crucial for maintaining fluid balance and blood pressure.
Gatorade can help you improve your blood pressure regulation, especially during postural changes, such as standing up, which can also be a trigger for vasovagal syncope.
Lying down does help vasovagal syncope, especially when you lay down with your legs elevated.
Laying down with your legs elevated can help to alleviate symptoms of vasovagal syncope and may even prevent fainting, because laying down helps restore your blood flow to your brain, which is reduced temporarily during an episode of vasovagal syncope.
Vasovagal syncope occurs when your heart rate slows down and your blood vessels wide, which leads to a drop in your blood pressure and also reduced blood flow to your brain.
Vasovagal syncope is hereditary as some people can inherit vasovagal syncope if they have a family history of vasovagal syncope.
The inheritance pattern of vasovagal syncope is often polygenic, which means that multiple genes can contribute to the predisposition to vasovagal syncope.
And some specific genes which have been linked to vasovagal syncope include KCNJ2, HCN1, KCNE1 and SCN5A.
Vasovagal syncope is usually nothing to worry about unless it occurs too often or occurs in situations such as driving or operating machinery or when doing other things that can be risky when you experience fainting as a result of the vasovagal syncope.
Vasovagal syncope itself is not dangerous itself but it can be concerning in situations if it leads to falls or injuries or occurs when driving.
Most people with infrequent episodes of vasovagal syncope can manage the vasovagal syncope with self care and some lifestyle adjustments.
If you experience the vasovagal syncope too frequently, you should talk to your doctor about it to rule out any possible underlying medical conditions.
And if you have any severe symptoms with the vasovagal syncope such as chest pain, shortness of breath or irregular heartbeat before or after fainting you should seek immediate medical attention.