Woman suddenly faints after playing cards and drinking soda, diagnosed with vasovagal syncope

Dr. Lin Rong-zhou, a neurologist at Changhua Hospital, stated in a press release today that two weeks ago, a 68-year-old woman, Ms. Wei, was playing poker with friends when she fainted backward after taking a big gulp of soda, hitting the back of her head, which swelled up. She woke up shortly after, and her friends, startled, rushed her to the emergency room. A CT scan showed no brain damage, but there was a head injury from hitting the ground, so she was transferred to neurology for examination. Dr. Lin Rong-zhou said that examinations including carotid ultrasound, electroencephalogram, and 24-hour electrocardiogram found no brain or heart problems, leading to a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope, which usually recovers spontaneously. However, sudden fainting can cause greater harm if the head or body hits a hard object. Dr. Lin Rong-zhou pointed out that the vagus nerve extends from the brain to various important organs. When the vagus nerve is overstimulated, it can cause a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduced blood flow, leading to insufficient blood supply to the brain and sudden fainting. If the factors stimulating the vagus nerve can be identified and improved from the source, the fainting condition can usually be alleviated. Dr. Lin Rong-zhou stated that vasovagal syncope usually has inducing factors that stimulate the vagus nerve before it occurs, such as severe body pain, emotional excitement, or fright. Ms. Wei might have been too nervous or excited, or the soda might have irritated her esophagus, triggering a vagus nerve response. Therefore, Ms. Wei was advised to control emotional excitement in her daily life, and she has not fainted again. The doctor also mentioned that two elderly men in their 70s frequently fainted, with no issues like high blood pressure, heart problems, or epilepsy, leading to suspicion of vasovagal syncope. Gastroscopy revealed that both suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease, and fainting occurred when the vagus nerve in the gastrointestinal tract was stimulated during episodes. Through medication and dietary control, their GERD improved, gradually reducing the frequency of fainting. Dr. Lin Rong-zhou said that vasovagal syncope is benign, and lying flat for a few minutes will restore blood flow to the brain and wake the person up. However, other possible causes must still be ruled out, and inducing factors identified for proper management. (Edited by Li Hsi-chang) 1150409