Fainting prevention includes sniffing, gasping: study

Do you get dizzy when you try to get up too quickly? Results of a new study reveal that simple actions such as gasping for air or sniffing can help prevent fainting episodes.

The study delves into vasovagal syncopes, considered the most common reason for fainting. According to the Mayo Clinic, it occurs as a reaction to specific triggers, like extreme emotional stress.

It is relatively harmless but a person may get injured during an episode. The Mayo Clinic suggests seeing a doctor to rule out other causes for the fainting spells like heart ailments.

According to Financial Express, vasovagal syncopes are a result of abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system. This system is comprised of contrasting sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

The article goes on to state that sympathetic actions raise the person's heart rate and blood pressure while the parasympathetic action does the opposite.

Dr. Marta Bavolarova is one of the researchers who conducted the study. One of the aims of the study was to see if respiratory reflexes such as gasping and sniffing can prevent a person from fainting, according to Eurekalert.

In the study, two women were made to lie down on a table with ECG devices that would monitor the person's heart rate and blood pressure. The angle of the table would rapidly change from horizontal 60 degrees in an attempt to mimic a person trying to stand up.

According to Eurekalert, the subjects were instructed to gasp for air twice or sniff without opening their months and then exhale. The researchers discovered that the heart rate and blood pressure of the subjects did not go down when they gasped or sniffed, preventing a syncope from occurring.

"Our test, which is like standing up quickly, previously led to falls in blood pressure and heart rate and subsequent syncope in these patients. But strong and forced inhalation by sniffing or gasping seemed to prevent these drops and they did not faint," Dr. Bavolarova said on the United Press International.

Dr. Bavoralova believes that these two respiratory reflexes have a strong sympathetic effect which counters the abnormal parasympathetic actions. The United Press International states that these can be used as countermeasures to prevent a person from fainting.

"Those who have prodromal symptoms like weakness, sweating or visual disturbances are advised to do counterpressure manoeuvres like leg crossing and hand grips to increase their heart rate and blood pressure," Dr. Bavolarova said on Financial Express.

Dr. Bavolarova plans to confirm the results on a larger number of patients.