Unveiling the Hidden Triggers Behind Fainting: Science's Latest Discovery

New research has discovered a pathway between the heart and brain that can trigger fainting, providing an explanation for the phenomenon that affects about 40% of people at some point in their lives. The study found a group of nerve cells connecting the heart's ventricles with a small region of the brainstem, and when stimulated, mice experienced a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to fainting-like symptoms. This finding could potentially lead to new treatments for disorders that affect blood flow to the brain, including those associated with long COVID.