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How much salt should I take to treat vasovagal syncope?

I've been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and take beta blockers twice a day. While this is helping a great deal, it's not always perfect. My doctor told me to increase my salt and water intake, but I don't know how much is enough. Has anyone experimented with this? I'm an athlete and now as the weather is getting warmer and getting dizzy again after runs.

Thanks!
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Avatar universal
As long as you drink the salt with the water you wont get sick from drinking too much water (within reason). People die from water overdose because they are diluting their blood and not adding salt to the blood/body which screws up your electrolyte balance. I drink Smart water or some version of that, and add sea salt or pink salt to my food a LOT. It is a mistake that we shouldn't have much salt. We NEED salt. Our bodies are made mostly of water and salt. We come from the sea, and now the sea is inside of us. The percentage of salt in our bodies is exactly the same as the sea. Amazing. Drink lots of water, add plenty of salt, be very very careful about saunas and hot days when you can get dehydrated. best wishes all.
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Avatar universal
I too have been diagnosed and it was not until I did the tilt table test that it was confirmed. In less than 8 min I got hot dizzy and passed out. My systolic pressure dropped to 50 this one should be 120 and my pulse rate dropped to 30 it is a very frightening feeling. My dr told me to increase my water intake till I urniate clear all the time. This is hard to maintain. He also added more salt to my diet but I have to be careful as I have high bp as well. I have been trying to figure out how much water I can safely take in I don't want to die from water overdose. I have an appointment next week and I'm hoping to get to the bottom of it. Maybe between us all we can figure something out.
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Avatar universal
I have the same diagnosis as both of you in addition to valve problems.  I've been on a beta blocker for 17 years to help with the irregular heart beat but my dizziness episodes are monthly.  I end up in the emergency room 2 to 3 times a year mainly due to passing out, low potassium, and dehydration. I have a daily routine that I go through.  It consists of Gatorade, luna bars, citrus tablets, and breathing exercises. When I feel the episodes coming on I increase my intake of all of these.  It was interesting to read the comments that someone wrote about going to the Cleveland Clinic because I am a patient there and do have Dr. Jaeger as my Electrophysiologist.  Yesterday he stressed putting more salt into my diet, wearing support hose on a regular basis and he is starting me on a drug called Levsin.  Good luck to both of you because I completely understand what you are experiencing.  I
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Avatar universal
I'm in the process of being tested for vasovagal near syncope (as I haven't lost conciousness). I have had a sleep-deprived EEG and an MRI, both coming back normal. I had an EKG, which was normal. Next week I'm on to an ultra-sound of the heart and then a tilt-table test. My neurologist thought these were psychic seizures but the testing didn't confirm her suspicions.

Now I'm noticing that under certain stressors (like even getting an eye exam) make me uneasy and faint-feeling. I, too, am wondering about how each of you came about your diagnoses and how often you were having such episodes before you began the specific treatment. I'm feeling discouraged and nervous, as I'm very independent and have felt extremely uneasy and embarrassed when I'm out in public and feel my symptoms (hot, sweety, distorted vision, inability to communicate in full sentances, dizzy, muffled hearing). Thank you for your time!
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1 Comments
The first attack of syncope that I become unconscious for few minutes during the breakfast. Symptoms vomiting felt like loosing strengt from lower limbs finally reaching the brain
I have normal bp &sugar
Plz advise
Avatar universal
I have also been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope in July 2007 after some dizzy spells.  I was prescribed a betablocker 3x a day and sodium pills since I do not like the taste of salt.  If you don't mind me asking what were your symptoms and how did you ultimately come to the diagnosis?  Hope this helps!

Shell
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