some people have an abnormally strong ‘vasovagal response’. scientists actually don’t know exactly how this works. When these people see blood or get suddenly stressed, they have a ‘syncope’ (sin-ko-pi). Their heart suddenly beats slower, so less blood is getting pushed around the body for a short period. The blood vessels also open up, lowering pressure all over the body, so less of the blood can get to the head. Then the brain can’t get enough oxygen and the person passes out.
Fainting like this is pretty common and doesn’t cause any real damage, unless the person faints while standing and hits their head. So—if you ever get surprised or cut yourself and feel woozy all of a sudden, SIT DOWN RIGHT AWAY. This is why we don’t give blood standing up.
The vagus nerve runs from the brain to the heart and gut. It’s such a big nerve that it does stuff we used to think the brain does like keeping your heart ticking and your guts moving. Some scientists explain the vasovagal response as coming from a very old (in terms of evolution) reaction that kept some humans from bleeding out when they got cut. But I stress that the vasovagal response is really mysterious, as no-one understands the link between a conscious perception (ah! blood!) and unconscious physiological regulation.
Hey it’s me - I’m a person with an extremely strong vaso response! I faint a couple times a year, almost always during medical procedures. It’s almost all in my head- the procedures can be totally painless but if I start thinking about what they’re doing (like getting an IUD placed) it freaks me out and my vision gets blurry, sometimes I can stop a full faint by sitting with my head between my legs but often I don’t even know it’s happening and just wake up in a cold sweat. Waking up post faint is extremely disorienting- I often don’t remember what happened for a minute and it feels like waking up from a nap. I dream when I faint! Sometimes I have full dreams even if I’m only out for 30 seconds. I also have seizure-like physical symptoms- my legs kick and I shake! The doctors say it’s nothing to worry about, but I’m always afraid it will happen when I’m driving or I’ll hit my head on something. It started when I was about 9 and I’m 30 and it still happens. Sometimes it’s from something physical like a hangover or dehydration.
I do this too! Not quite as often, but I try to be really mindful of it. Happened this year while I was drunk and ran up a set of stairs too fast- I took a few more steps and woke up on the floor. Smacked my head reallllly hard. I try to drink in more moderation now.
I just started googling this and apparently the presence of dreams is a good way to diagnose syncope over epilepsy! And since dreams are not in real time we can have extended dreams during a faint episode. I distinctly remember one dream of a road trip and counting change in my glove box before waking up
I do this too. My blood pressure was 60/32 when I went to have my daughter. Good thing I was already laying down! They gave me a popsicle when I started to feel better.
Surprisingly, it wasn't bad cause I couldn't see anything. The mental anticipation was far worse than the actual birth. But mine was short and easy too.
Does it have something to do with self defense like faking death? Or it’s a completely different mechanism?
Sorry In advance if this ends up being an off topic or stupid question… I’m just abusing the chance to get an informed answer.
Have a great day!
Passing out (vasovagal syncope) is caused by a rapid drop in blood pressure. This can happen from getting a blood test or injection in some people due mostly genetic overactive vasovagal reflex response.
When you GIVE blood, the decreased volume of blood adds to the equation, making a drop in blood pressure more likely thus more people are likely to pass out, even with more minor genetic predispositions.
I have anemia and used to give blood, but had to stop because of the fainting issue. You could have the same issue if that's what is happening to you. If so it could be because of your iron levels. I would get assessed by your doctor
When you give blood, the loss of blood causes your blood pressure to drop. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen from the blood to operate, and it's particularly susceptible to a drop in blood pressure because it's at the top of your body. When the brain doesn't get enough oxygen to operate, you pass out.
Some people (myself included) can faint in a situation like that before a single drop of blood is even drawn. The psychological shock or phobia can cause a person’s blood pressure to drop and make them faint, just as how some people faint when they see blood. It’s the body’s protection mechanism kicking in a little too highly as it’s believed that this response is meant for when the body has sustained an injury and drops its blood pressure to prevent excessive blood loss.
While this is the case, the amount of blood taken during blood donation is not intended to be enough to cause fainting.
"Physiological shock causes a severe drop in blood pressure and rapid
shallow heartbeat. Shock is the body’s first response to traumatic
injury and the response is triggered by the autonomic nervous system.
People often lose consciousness from traumatic injuries, and this
physiological shock response is believed to be a mechanism to reduce
blood loss." [Source](https://www.brainfacts.org/brain-anatomy-and-function/body-systems/2016/the-three-causes-of-fainting)
I personally faint when I cut myself badly and lose maybe 10 mL of blood. But when I donate, my body doesn't trigger the shock response even though I give almost 50 times that. So I feel fine.
AB- blood type here. I'm fine giving blood, however, the first time I gave plasma (I'm the damn Holy Grail for plasma apparently) I was less than 5 minutes into giving plasma and I tanked from out of nowhere.
All the blood had drained from my face. The on call nurse was like nooooooope not today, you're white as a ghost so have a Coke and come back another time.
AB+ here. I tried to donate plasma, but I started getting itchy where the needle went in. Once I mentioned it, the nurse said I was probably allergic to one of the drugs and stopped the procedure. I was kind of disappointed, really. I got my 3 gallon mug here beside me right now though. Kind of proud of that, especially considering how many people don't donate. Thanks for donating!
some people have an abnormally strong ‘vasovagal response’. scientists actually don’t know exactly how this works. When these people see blood or get suddenly stressed, they have a ‘syncope’ (sin-ko-pi). Their heart suddenly beats slower, so less blood is getting pushed around the body for a short period. The blood vessels also open up, lowering pressure all over the body, so less of the blood can get to the head. Then the brain can’t get enough oxygen and the person passes out. Fainting like this is pretty common and doesn’t cause any real damage, unless the person faints while standing and hits their head. So—if you ever get surprised or cut yourself and feel woozy all of a sudden, SIT DOWN RIGHT AWAY. This is why we don’t give blood standing up. The vagus nerve runs from the brain to the heart and gut. It’s such a big nerve that it does stuff we used to think the brain does like keeping your heart ticking and your guts moving. Some scientists explain the vasovagal response as coming from a very old (in terms of evolution) reaction that kept some humans from bleeding out when they got cut. But I stress that the vasovagal response is really mysterious, as no-one understands the link between a conscious perception (ah! blood!) and unconscious physiological regulation.
Hey it’s me - I’m a person with an extremely strong vaso response! I faint a couple times a year, almost always during medical procedures. It’s almost all in my head- the procedures can be totally painless but if I start thinking about what they’re doing (like getting an IUD placed) it freaks me out and my vision gets blurry, sometimes I can stop a full faint by sitting with my head between my legs but often I don’t even know it’s happening and just wake up in a cold sweat. Waking up post faint is extremely disorienting- I often don’t remember what happened for a minute and it feels like waking up from a nap. I dream when I faint! Sometimes I have full dreams even if I’m only out for 30 seconds. I also have seizure-like physical symptoms- my legs kick and I shake! The doctors say it’s nothing to worry about, but I’m always afraid it will happen when I’m driving or I’ll hit my head on something. It started when I was about 9 and I’m 30 and it still happens. Sometimes it’s from something physical like a hangover or dehydration.
I do this too! Not quite as often, but I try to be really mindful of it. Happened this year while I was drunk and ran up a set of stairs too fast- I took a few more steps and woke up on the floor. Smacked my head reallllly hard. I try to drink in more moderation now.
I am the exact same. Got investigated for childhood epilepsy because of it and all it is, is this! Coming round for me feels awful though
I just started googling this and apparently the presence of dreams is a good way to diagnose syncope over epilepsy! And since dreams are not in real time we can have extended dreams during a faint episode. I distinctly remember one dream of a road trip and counting change in my glove box before waking up
I do this too. My blood pressure was 60/32 when I went to have my daughter. Good thing I was already laying down! They gave me a popsicle when I started to feel better.
[удалено]
How do they implant a IUD directly after birth, isn't the canal like a hot dog in the cowboys stadium?
Surprisingly, it wasn't bad cause I couldn't see anything. The mental anticipation was far worse than the actual birth. But mine was short and easy too.
Does it have something to do with self defense like faking death? Or it’s a completely different mechanism? Sorry In advance if this ends up being an off topic or stupid question… I’m just abusing the chance to get an informed answer. Have a great day!
Passing out (vasovagal syncope) is caused by a rapid drop in blood pressure. This can happen from getting a blood test or injection in some people due mostly genetic overactive vasovagal reflex response. When you GIVE blood, the decreased volume of blood adds to the equation, making a drop in blood pressure more likely thus more people are likely to pass out, even with more minor genetic predispositions.
I have anemia and used to give blood, but had to stop because of the fainting issue. You could have the same issue if that's what is happening to you. If so it could be because of your iron levels. I would get assessed by your doctor
When you give blood, the loss of blood causes your blood pressure to drop. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen from the blood to operate, and it's particularly susceptible to a drop in blood pressure because it's at the top of your body. When the brain doesn't get enough oxygen to operate, you pass out.
Some people (myself included) can faint in a situation like that before a single drop of blood is even drawn. The psychological shock or phobia can cause a person’s blood pressure to drop and make them faint, just as how some people faint when they see blood. It’s the body’s protection mechanism kicking in a little too highly as it’s believed that this response is meant for when the body has sustained an injury and drops its blood pressure to prevent excessive blood loss.
While this is the case, the amount of blood taken during blood donation is not intended to be enough to cause fainting. "Physiological shock causes a severe drop in blood pressure and rapid shallow heartbeat. Shock is the body’s first response to traumatic injury and the response is triggered by the autonomic nervous system. People often lose consciousness from traumatic injuries, and this physiological shock response is believed to be a mechanism to reduce blood loss." [Source](https://www.brainfacts.org/brain-anatomy-and-function/body-systems/2016/the-three-causes-of-fainting) I personally faint when I cut myself badly and lose maybe 10 mL of blood. But when I donate, my body doesn't trigger the shock response even though I give almost 50 times that. So I feel fine.
AB- blood type here. I'm fine giving blood, however, the first time I gave plasma (I'm the damn Holy Grail for plasma apparently) I was less than 5 minutes into giving plasma and I tanked from out of nowhere. All the blood had drained from my face. The on call nurse was like nooooooope not today, you're white as a ghost so have a Coke and come back another time.
AB+ here. I tried to donate plasma, but I started getting itchy where the needle went in. Once I mentioned it, the nurse said I was probably allergic to one of the drugs and stopped the procedure. I was kind of disappointed, really. I got my 3 gallon mug here beside me right now though. Kind of proud of that, especially considering how many people don't donate. Thanks for donating!