Top

Published in:

01-08-2008 | EDITORIAL

Is there any point to vasovagal syncope?

Authors: J. Gert van Dijk, MD, PhD, Robert Sheldon

Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research | Issue 4/2008

Excerpt

Vasovagal fainting, i.e., neurally mediated syncope induced by slight pain, fear or merely standing, is a uniquely human characteristic. Other animals also fight over territory, make tools, make weapons, have culture, can use words and symbols, work together, have bosses, are monogamous or polygamous, and even have children who never seem to leave home. But we and we alone faint. And it is hardly uncommon: about 37% of people have at least one episode of vasovagal syncope (VVS) in their life up to age 70 [11]. …

Alboni P, Alboni M, Bertorelle G (2008) The origin of vasovagal syncope: to protect the heart or to escape predation? Clin Auton Res (online publication July 1)

Barcroft H, McMichael J, Edholm OG, Sharpey-Shafer EP (1944) Posthaemmorrhagic fainting. Study by cardiac output and formearm flow. Lancet 1:489–491CrossRef

Binik YM, Theriault G, Shustack B (1977) Suden death in the laboratory rat: cardiac function, sensory, and experiental factors in swimming deaths. Psychosom Med 39:82–92PubMed

Bracha HS, Bracha AS, Williams AE, Ralston TC, Matsukawa JM (2005) The human fear-circuitry and fear-induced fainting in healthy individuals—the paleolithic-threat hypothesis. Clin Auton Res 15:238–241PubMedCrossRef

Diehl RR (2005) Vasovagal syncope and Darwinian fitness. Clin Auton Res 15:126–129PubMedCrossRef

Ganzeboom KS, Mairuhu G, Reitsma JB, Linzer M, Wieling W, van Dijk N (2006) Lifetime cumulative incidence of syncope in the general population: a study of 549 Dutch subjects aged 35–60 years. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 17:1172–1176PubMedCrossRef

Overeem S, Lammers GJ, van Dijk JG (2002) Cataplexy: ‘tonic immobility’ rather than ‘REM-sleep atonia’? Sleep Med 3:471–477PubMedCrossRef

Richter CP (1957) On the phenomenon of sudden death in animals and man. Psychosom Med 19:191–197PubMed

Schadt JC, Ludbrook J (1991) Hemodynamic and neurohumoral responses to acute hypovolemia in conscious mammals. Am J Physiol 260:H305–H318PubMed

10.

Schadt JC, Hasser EM (2001) Defense reaction alters the response to blood loss in the conscious rabbit. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 280:R985–R993

11.

Serletis A, Rose S, Sheldon AG, Sheldon RS (2006) Vasovagal syncope in medical students and their first-degree relatives. Eur Heart J 27:1965–1970.PubMedCrossRef

12.

van Dijk JG (2003) Fainting in animals. Clin Auton Res 13:247–255PubMedCrossRef

13.

Wisbach G, Tobias S, Woodman R, Spalding A, Lockette W (2007) Preserving cardiac output with beta-adrenergic receptor blockade and inhibiting the Bezold-Jarisch reflex during resuscitation from hemorhage. J Trauma 63:26–32.PubMedCrossRef

14.

Wood SK, Verhoeven RE, Savit AZ, Rice KC, Fischbach PS, Woods JH (2006) Facilitation of cardiac vagal activity bt CRF-RI antagonists during swim stress in rats. Neuropsychopharmacol 31:2580–2590CrossRef

Title: Is there any point to vasovagal syncope?
Authors: J. Gert van Dijk, MD, PhD
Robert Sheldon
Publication date: 01-08-2008
Publisher: D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in: Clinical Autonomic Research / Issue 4/2008
Print ISSN: 0959-9851
Electronic ISSN: 1619-1560
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-008-0484-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Is there any point to vasovagal syncope?

Excerpt

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Excerpt

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2008

Pilot study of pyridostigmine in constipated patients with autonomic neuropathy

Optimizing squatting as a physical maneuver to prevent vasovagal syncope

The effect of depression on heart rate variability during pregnancy

Evaluation of autonomic malfunction in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Is fatigue in Marfan syndrome related to orthostatic intolerance?

Reversible postural tachycardia syndrome due to inadvertent overuse of Red Bull®