No parent ever wants to see their child collapse to the ground. Despite 99% of fainting incidents being benign, no parent ever wants to see their child collapse suddenly to the ground.
While only lasting seconds, these vasovagal episodes can feel like hours for anxious parents who have witnessed their child losing consciousness without warning. Parents describe struggling with feelings of panic each time their kid complains of dizziness or nausea out of fear another fainting spell could strike again.
So what exactly causes this abrupt and intense reaction leading to fainting spells?
In this article, we’ll walk through the physiological mechanisms, risk factors, and steps parents can take to get to the root of vasovagal syncope causes and episodes. Going beyond symptom relief, we’ll also explore and address the neurological imbalances driving these events on a foundational level.
Understanding Vasovagal Syncope
Vasovagal syncope, also known as reflex syncope or neurocardiogenic syncope, refers to a sudden loss of consciousness caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. It occurs when the nervous system inappropriately responds to certain triggers, initiating a cascade of physiological changes.
The term vasovagal indicates that blood vessels and the vagus nerve play a role. But what exactly is the vagus nerve, and why is it vital to regulating fainting episodes?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, often called the “wandering nerve” because it wanders throughout the body. It connects the brain to many major organs and carries nerve signals for key parasympathetic “rest and digest” functions. It’s also essential in various physiological “regulation” mechanisms.
When working correctly, the vagus nerve lowers heart rate and blood pressure to promote stability and recovery. However, when nervous system dysregulation occurs, the heart’s pacemaking signals can become overwhelmed. Both blood vessels and vagus nerve malfunction drive vasovagal syncope’s precipitous blood pressure drops.
Addressing this imbalance within the autonomic nervous system, also known as dysautonomia, and restoring balance requires addressing accumulated tension and interference (subluxation) along the intricate vagus nerve pathway. This is why Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is vital yet overlooked when treating recurrent fainting episodes.
Vasovagal Syncope Causes
Vasovagal syncope stems from a nervous system dysfunction rather than a structural heart or vessel issue. Certain triggers can set off an exaggerated neurological reflex or vasovagal response, sparking a precipitous drop in heart rate and blood pressure. By recognizing these common triggers, parents can become empowered to help minimize or prevent fainting episodes.
Orthostatic Stress
Prolonged standing or sudden upright posture changes are the most frequent vasovagal syncope triggers. Being upright strains veins in the legs to push blood back to the heart. As blood pools in the abdomen and limbs, input signals the nervous system to maintain stable blood flow to the brain. However, nervous system dysfunction causes an overreaction, causing the heart rate to slow and vessels to dilate, dropping blood pressure. This often causes kids to faint upon standing or leaving the bed.
Physical Triggers
Activities triggering pain receptors and nerve signals may also stimulate vasovagal syncope. These include blood draws, injections, bladder straining, or intense coughing. The vagus nerve oversees these functions and may misfire in response. Even mild abdominal pain from hunger or bowel urgency can stimulate vasovagal events in sensitive children.
Emotional Triggers
Situations of shock, distress, fear, disgust, or surprise generate surges in nerve signals that may initiate sympathetic then vagal overdrive. For kids, seeing blood or needles, scary imagery, startling loud noises, anger, embarrassment, or even laughing hysterically provoke these emotional triggers commonly.
Additional Risk Factors
Dehydration, anemia, fasting, poor sleep, and certain medications can increase susceptibility to vasovagal episodes through similar mechanisms of autonomic disruption. Another common vasovagal syncope occurrence is when children encounter the sight of blood. Kids going through growth spurts with already taxed nervous systems also face higher risk profiles during these developmental phases.
The Neurophysiology Behind Vasovagal Syncope Causes and Episodes
Vasovagal syncope occurs when an inappropriate reflex arc between the heart, brain, and nerves sparks the rapid loss of consciousness. Here is a simplified breakdown:
- The trigger first activates nerve receptors, signaling to the brain that an adverse stressor or event occurs. This sparks sympathetic nervous system arousal (“fight or flight” activation).
- The brain then overcorrects by substantially increasing parasympathetic nerve activity carried through the vagus nerve.
- The vagus nerve heavily slows the heart rate through reduced electrical pacemaking signals.
- As the heartbeat progressively drops, the vagus nerve also dilates blood vessels throughout the body.
- This dual impact greatly reduces the volume of blood pumped and allows blood to pool in widened vessels. The net effect is a precipitous decline in blood pressure.
- As blood pressure falls, the restricted flow of oxygenated blood to the brain causes abrupt loss of consciousness. People collapse or faint as a protective mechanism upon standing or sitting up.
- Lying down allows blood to regain circulation to the brain through gravity’s help. This enables those with vasovagal syncope to regain alertness rapidly.
This sequence describes an inappropriate or disrupted reflex arc. Dysfunction manifests as excessive slowing of heart rhythm (bradycardia) or excessive dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation). Depending on the individual, both play a role in vasovagal syncope.
Now that we better understand the bodily mechanisms behind fainting spells, let’s explore what these episodes look like when they do occur.
Vasovagal Syncope Responses
Children are most likely to experience a vasovagal syncope response when standing or sitting, rather than lying down.
There is a short period just before vasovagal syncope during which the individual is most likely to experience symptoms. This period is known as presyncope and is less frequent in adults. Identifying vasovagal presyncope can be a crucial tool in preventing injury.
The National Library of Medicine outlines common symptoms that occur 30-60 seconds before an attack. These include:
- Nausea
- Pale skin
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Unwarranted sweating
- Tiredness and yawning
- A sudden feeling of warmth
It’s important to know what to expect during an attack. The following are common symptoms:
- Uncontrolled urination
- Eyes remain open but roll up and back into the head
- Twitching movements (which are often mistaken for a seizure)
- Breathing will not be interrupted (which can happen with life-threatening conditions)
- Loss of consciousness and falling to the ground (which usually lasts no longer than 15 seconds)
After the attack, children usually recover quickly within 20 to 30 seconds. They don’t usually experience disorientation or confusion, and if they do, it doesn’t last longer than 30 seconds. Some other symptoms that may occur include anxiety or nervousness, dizziness, headache, nausea, pale skin, sweating, and an urge to use the bathroom.
Children quickly recover from falls as gravity restores circulation to the brain. Still, appreciating the nervous system roots of this abrupt reflex allows for lifestyle adjustments and care plans that prevent future collapses.
Understanding “The Perfect Storm” of Vasovagal Syncope Causes
At PX Docs, we often reference “The Perfect Storm” when explaining chronic health conditions. This metaphor describes how dysfunction accumulates over time through a sequence of stress triggers until a tipping point or “storm” emerges. If these children were exposed to these stressors way early in life, during the prenatal (fetal) and early childhood developmental windows, often the symptoms or conditions of this dysfunction may not arise until years later.
In the context of recurrent fainting episodes, factors like birth trauma, early nerve injury, toxicity, inflammation, infection, etc., can spark sympathetic overdrive early on. This tunes up nervous system reactivity as a child develops. Then, a growth spurt, hormone shift, or emotional event overtaxes a sensitized system prone to vasovagal reactions, bringing episodes to light. Appreciating this cascade of contributors is critical to proper care and improvement.
While traditional medicine focuses on bandaging symptoms when patients faint, PX Docs specializes in uncovering root causes for true healing and prevention. We recognize vasovagal syncope does not arise from issues with the heart itself but rather from disruptions in the neural communication pathways that regulate heart rhythm and vascular tone.
Caring For Kids with Fainting Episodes
While confronting root causes, several complementary areas of self-care can further support kids suffering from repeated vasovagal syncope fainting events. Keeping detailed logs of fainting spell circumstances and tracking identifiable triggers helps inform treatment adjustments. Strategies to minimize triggers should be implemented wherever applicable. These may include:
- Preventing dehydration and hypoglycemia
- Gradually adapting to upright postures
- Managing anxiety and stressful situations
- Practicing abdominal breathing techniques
However, the most vital intervention addresses accumulated subluxation and tension in the vagus nerve and sympathetic nervous system. The care provided by nervous system-focused chiropractors looks to address the roots of vasovagal syncope causes and restore balance to the nervous system through a series of safe progressive adjustments that have long-lasting benefits.
The Power of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
While traditional medicine relies on drugs and medications to mask vasovagal syncope causes and symptoms, PX Docs focuses on the neurological roots for true restoration and quality of life improvement.
To accurately identify and address nervous system dysregulation and dysautonomia, each doctor in our PX Docs Network uses advanced INSiGHT Scanning technology. These scans provide a “window” into the nervous system, enabling our doctors to pinpoint the exact location and type of subluxation and neurological dysfunction. This precise information allows doctors to create customized care plans and select specific adjusting techniques for optimal patient outcomes.
If you’ve witnessed your child suffer from vasovagal syncope once or multiple times, we’re here to provide you with drug-free, neurologically-focused care solutions that address the root of the issue. To connect with a qualified PX Doc in your area, visit our PX Docs Directory.
