Neurally Mediated Hypotension
..., or taking a hot shower, you may be at risk. People also feel symptoms immediately after they finish exercising. If you experience emotionally stressful events, symptoms have also been known to occur. Each person’s susceptibility to NMH is affected by his or her genetic make-p, dietary factors, and psychological make-up. Some symptoms that can be caused by NMH are recurring lightheadedness, fainting, and prolonged fatigue. After a faint occurs, mental confusion is common, difficulty concentrating, staying on task, paying attention, and struggle to find the right words. How is NMH diagnosed? It cannot be detected by blood pressure or heart rate screening. Often, doctors will use the “tilt table test” or “standing test”. The tilt table test measure your heart rate and blood pressure. The reason for the evaluation is because there is recurring fainting happening. During the test, they strap you horizontally to a table, then gradually tilt it farther and farther upwards to observe the reactions and to watch you faint. During the test it is common to feel lightheadedness, nausea and to faint. The tilt table test prohibits someone from doing their natural defenses. Some things that you can do on your own to help avoid fainting are crossing your legs, sitting or lying down, and fidgeting. What causes NMH? At this point in time, no one really has a certain answer. It been considered that possibly it has some connection to genetic origins. It is not uncommon to find background in the family with NMH. There has been no gene identified with the condition. A common problem that has been identified with NMH is not enough salt intakes. To fix this you increase your dosage of sodium pills. Increased amounts of salt and water help to reduce common symptoms. Treatments require patience, willingness, and commitment. Does treatment cure the problem? Even when the medications are successful, they do not sure the problem. They do however help to control the symptoms. Symptoms worsen for women around the time of their menstrual cycle. Other things you can do that will help are, avoiding situations which might bring on symptoms. Don’t shop at busy times, take shorter cooler showers, avoid standing still. Some helpful maneuvers that you can do to help avoid symptoms are crossing your legs, squatting, standing with one leg on a chair, and bending forward from waist. My sister Elizabeth Yost has Neurally Mediated Hypotension. She’s now 21 and she was 15 when she first fainted. She’s fainted probably 20 times a year for 6 years. Leading up to the faint, she is tired and usually stressed out. She doesn’t have much warning before she actually does faint. Right before she passes out, her eyes look glazed over and they appear to roll back into her head. While...