What is Neurocardiogenic Syncope? Well Syncope is another name for “fainting”, and Neurocardiogenic is a condition where blood vessels expand, pulling blood to the lower parts of the body, resulting in low blood flow to the brain. With little blood flow to the brain, Syncope (Fainting) happens. The usual stimulus for this action resides in the nerves of the heart- hence getting the name Neurocardiogenic.
Neurocardiogenic Syncope symptoms range from fatigue, vague lightheadedness, confusion, recurrent dizziness, near fainting, palpitations, nausea, unexplained sweating, joint or muscle aches, to the most dramatic “the faint. Some people may only have one or more of these symptoms with never progressing to fainting, to the worst-case scenario of having all of the symptoms.
Being a victim of this disease for the last 15 years, I have gone through the worst-case scenario of witnessing all of these symptoms, sometimes on a daily basis. Imagine going through your everyday life healthy, then all of a sudden your body starts having these horrible symptoms. It’s very scary in the beginning, but physicians have much knowledge on the disease and have ways to diagnose your dramatizing symptoms. I remember feeling like I was going to faint or actually fainting on a daily basis. My anxiety was on overtime mode constantly as I asked myself “Why am I feeling like this” or “Am I ever going to feel better”?
Diagnosing Neurocardiogenic Syncope is done by a test called “Tilt Table Test”. This test is done by measurement of the heart rate and blood pressure responses to the head-up position at a 70-degree angle, in an almost standing position. I remember taking this test several of times, fainting every time. This test itself is safer than the actual episode in real life because the event is monitored carefully. During this procedure you are strapped to a table laying down for a certain amount of time, then slowly raised to a 70-degree angle, where you stand there being monitored for a certain amount of time. Normal patients will have no trouble but people with Neurocardiogenic Syncope will start to sweat, feel nauseated, see spots, and eventually pass out (faint).
Once diagnosed, physicians treat patients with medications such as: beta-blockers, fludrocortisone, disopyramide, flueoxetine, sertraline, midodrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, theophylline, and methylpheridate. Physicians also recommended excessive amounts of water or salt pills. Dehydration is a very common way to bring on the symptoms, so drinking mass quantities of water is a must. I take four of the medications and also an anxiety medication. During the beginning stage of being diagnosed the doctors will try different medications until your body finds the right combination for you. Don’t get frustrated, as I did, this time period is normal. I felt as if none of the medications were going to make me feel better, but your physician will find the right combination for you.
Neurocardiogenic Syncope has no cure. The disease is controlled by medicine and certain doctor’s orders that will make you feel fewer symptoms. Patients with advanced Neurocardiogenic Syncope will continue to have severed episodes. These patients change their life style based on the disease. They avoid heated showers, sun, crowds, standing for periods of time, caffeine, alcohol, and in some cases daily chores in and outside their home. During harsh symptoms the patient can only lay down hoping the episode will only last a short period of time. There are no time limits as to how long or short these symptoms will last, nor how many times a day they will come. This is the reason lives are changed with this disease. A patient can only obey by the doctor’s rules, take your medicine on time, and be knowledgeable on the disease.
This disease is very hard to live with. Neurocardiogenic Syncope makes a patient feel very hard to explain its feeling. If you have never fainted, feeling like your going to faint, or be in a state of confusion, then you cant relate. These patients have to live life in a “Wonder and Hope” stage. “Wonder” when the symptoms are going to come on and have them laying down and “Hope” that the symptoms only last a short period of time.
