BBB: understand if it is possible to faint during an anxiety attack – 01/15/2024 – Mental Health

On Saturday night (13), BBB24 participant Alane, 24, fainted while having a tense conversation with Nizam, 32. She was treated by a medical team, was fine, and was able to return to the program.

Presenter Tadeu Schmidt, when opening that night’s edition, said: “Alane was talking to Nizam, telling her about Nizam’s fight with Vanessa Lopes, and she got very nervous and fainted.”

Alane herself, upon returning home, told other participants that she passed out because she had an anxiety attack.

During an anxiety or panic attack, the most common symptoms are shortness of breath, tremors, sensations of cold or heat and racing and confused thoughts.

In some people, the tension can be so great that it causes them to faint, according to psychiatrist Jessica Martani.

“This happens because in situations of intense stress, several neurochemical substances are released, one of which is adrenaline. Today we know that large amounts of adrenaline can lead to a temporary decrease in blood pressure, which can lead to episodes of fainting known as vasovagal syncope” , explains the doctor.

Vasovagal syncope occurs when there is an exacerbated reaction of the vasovagal nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic system and helps with circulatory regulation in our body.

“The extreme response, in situations of great stress, can cause the release of adrenaline, leading to a temporary decrease in blood pressure and fainting”, says Martani

The psychiatrist points out that extreme environmental conditions, such as intense heat, can contribute to dehydration and an additional drop in blood pressure, worsening the case.

How to avoid a vasovagal reaction?

As it is an autonomic reaction of the body, it is often difficult to avoid fainting during an anxiety attack, says the doctor.

But try to shift your focus away from the stressor trigger, interrupt the discussion and change the environment, practice breathing and relaxation techniques to calm yourself in the moment and, in some situations where your blood pressure drops, lie down so that your legs are higher than your chest. head, are ways to avoid fainting.

Martani notes that each case must be evaluated and treated by one or even more doctors from different specialties, such as psychiatrists and cardiologists.

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