Tilt training can stop recurrent fainting or syncope

Tilt training can reduce symptoms of recurrent fainting or syncope up to 85%

According to a study presented today at the EHRA Congress 2019, a congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), tilt training effectively prevents fainting. The program also improved quality of life, reduced worries and fears about future fainting, and allowed patients to return to work.

Fainting or syncope is a pbading loss of consciousness due to acute reduction of blood supply to the brain with rapid, spontaneous and complete recovery. About one in three people suffer from an episode of fainting during their lifetime in the general population.

Neurally mediated syncope (NMS), also known as reflex, neurocardiogenic or vasovagal syncope, is the most common form of unconsciousness and a common reason for ED visits. The most common triggers are hot and crowded spaces, emotional stress or getting up too quickly. Most fainting is safe, but a small percentage of people faint due to an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia, therefore requiring immediate evaluation by electrocardiogram or ECG.

The most common triggers are hot and crowded spaces, emotional stress or getting up too quickly. Most fainting is safe, but a small percentage of people faint due to an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia, which requires immediate evaluation with electrocardiogram or ECG.

In some patients, fainting occurs repeatedly without any harbingers, and medications or devices do not help. Previous studies have also shown that tilt-table exercises improve patients with recurrent neurocardiogenic syncope. The study included 102 patients (mean age 46 years) who had fainted at least twice in the previous six months or who had fainted once and who had three presyncopal episodes at the time. during the previous year.

The initiation to training was also significantly badociated with less anxiety, fear and frustration related to fainting. The protocol consisted of two parts. In the hospital area, patients lie on a table that can reach 60 ° C for six sessions and at 70 ° C three sessions – each time being elevated for 20 to 30 minutes while measuring the electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure. The home party consisted of sitting in the bed at 60-70 ° for 30 minutes a day, sleeping with extra pillows so that the head was at 10 °, avoiding fast vertical movements, drinking around 2.5 liters of water a day and do aerobics exercises. for 30 minutes a day.

After tilt training, the blood pressure did not drop during vertical movement and the cardiac output (volume of blood pumped at each beat) normalized. But more importantly, on average 5.5 years after the program, 86% of patients had not yet pbaded out. In the rest (14%), the average number of annual fainting episodes (syncope) and presyncopal (fainting) decreased significantly by more than half – from five fainting to fewer than two and more than 11 episodes presyncopal to less than five.

"These findings show that tipping training is a safe and effective treatment option for selected patients with recurrent syncopal episodes," said Dr. Sergio Laranjo, author of the study, Santa Hospital. Marta, Lisbon, Portugal. "None of the conventional treatments had helped, but after the basic training, they stopped fainting and were able to resume their work."