What is vagal discomfort?
Vagal discomfort gets its name vagus nerve, the nerve that runs through the body from the brain to the stomach. Too stimulated, the vagus nerve is then responsible for vagal discomfort. Vagal discomfort is a very common and benign discomfort. “In reality, it is more syncope than malaise. It is a transient, brief and sudden loss of consciousness due to a drop in tone, which leads to a fall. There is also a rapid return to normal consciousness. In the specific case of vagal discomfort, vasovagal syncope is triggered by a voltage drop“, develops Laure Geisler, general practitioner.
What are the symptoms ?
“Before the onset of discomfort, the subject experiences prodromes: palpitations, visual blurring, tremors and dizziness especially”, notes the general practitioner.
At the moment of discomfort, the person feels great muscle weakness, a big heat stroke – she starts to sweat – and she faints. “Once the discomfort is over, some people, but not the majority, may experience nausea, vomiting and headaches,” explains Laure Geisler.
Who is at risk and what are the risk factors?
“Most often, these are people who suffer from tension disorders,” says the specialist. “It can also concern people who do not follow their treatment well, hypotensives and diuretics, in particular”, she adds.
Strong emotions are risk factors, just like intense stressextreme fatigue or excessive physical activity.
According to Laure Geisler, the context also plays an important role in the occurrence of vagal discomfort: “a warm, noisy atmosphere, confined as in a concert hall or a restaurant, are risky environments”.
How to react ?
The prodromes mentioned above are signals that should alert. “A person who knows that he is subject to vagal discomfort, when he feels the prodromes, must warn the people accompanying her and that she has the reflex to sit or lie down because it is the fall that can be especially dangerous”, says the professional. The ideal position? Lie down and raise your legs to 30°.
After the discomfort, Laure Geisler recommends those around them to lie the person down and put them in lateral safety position. “You also have to watch her, of course. I repeat, vagal discomfort is benign. But if the person’s state of health seems worrying, if they remain unconscious for more than five minutes or if they are known to have a cardiac history in particular, I recommend calling the emergency services.”
What treatment for vagal discomfort?
There is no medical treatment to prevent vagal discomfort. However, if the discomfort is repeated, it is important to consult to ensure that these syncopes are not the symptoms of a more serious pathology. “It can indeed be another type of discomfort, potentially more serious and linked to cardiovascular disease for example. The patient will be subjected to an electrocardiogram, we can also take a blood test”, says Laure Geisler.
The general practitioner also recommends seeing a doctor if the discomfort occurs without circumstance, context, risk factors, “if you are completely relaxed, calm, at home”, she illustrates.
Source: interview with Dr Laure Geisler, host of the TouTube channel Le cœur net where she offers popular medical videos.
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