Unveiling the Link Between Fainting and the Heart-Brain Connection

A newly discovered pathway between the heart and brain may explain why healthy people faint. The pathway carries signals from the heart's lower pumping chambers to an area of the brainstem that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. When nerve cells along this pathway are stimulated in mice, they experience a drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to fainting. This finding provides a biological explanation for fainting not caused by an underlying medical condition. Understanding this heart-brain connection is crucial, especially in the context of COVID-19, which often affects the autonomic system. The study could lead to new treatments for conditions that affect blood flow to the brain.