Help needed for college athlete with Vassodepressor Syncope

My daughter swims in college and has vassodepressor syncope.  Since starting college, she has been practicing twice as much as she did in high school and her vasso episodes have been more evident.  

How can she strengthen her cardiovascular system to withstand this amount of stress?  Would more lifting help?  Would a hydrating medicine help?  She drinks water and has a high salt diet and has been successful with this - but it isnot as successfull anymore.  

She currently takes thophyllen and Steroid to retain water...  Any ideas on how to get this under control?  She is on full scholarship for swimming and doesn't want to give up her education.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

There is not a great treatment for vasodepressor syncope.

Exercise is recommended to help some people but if she is working out that much, I doubt additional lifting would help.  I do not know of a medication that helps that much.

In general, though, I do not treat vasodepressor syncope and didn't receive any formal training in it other than diagnosing it compared to other causes of syncope.  There might be other doctors that have more ideas -- I can't think of any.

It does tend to go through phases and hopefully will calm down soon.