The key difference between vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia is that in vasovagal syncope, people faint when their body overreacts to certain triggers like the sight of blood or extreme distress, while in hypoglycemia, people faint because their blood sugar level is lower than the standard level.
Vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia are two medical conditions that can cause syncope (loss of consciousness). Vasovagal syncope is known as neurocardiogenic syncope, while hypoglycaemia is known as metabolic syncope.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Vasovagal Syncope
3. What is Hypoglycemia
4. Similarities – Vasovagal Syncope and Hypoglycemia
5. Vasovagal Syncope vs Hypoglycemia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Vasovagal Syncope vs Hypoglycemia
What is Vasovagal Syncope?
Vasovagal syncope is a condition that makes some people faint. It is also known as neurocardiogenic syncope or reflex syncope. It is the most common cause of fainting. Vasovagal syncope is normally not harmful, nor is it a sign of a more serious complication. It takes place when the part of the nervous system that regulates heart rate and blood pressure malfunctions in response to a trigger like the sight of blood. This causes the heart rate to slow down and blood vessels in the legs to dilate. This also allows blood to pool in the legs, thus, lowering the blood pressure. Ultimately, this condition reduces blood flow to the brain, and people faint. The other common triggers of vasovagal syncope include standing for long periods of time, heat exposure, seeing blood, having blood drawn, fear of bodily injury, and straining for bowel movements.
The symptoms of vasovagal syncope include pale skin, light-headedness, tunnel vision, nausea, feeling warm, a cold, clammy sweat, blurred vision, abnormal jerky movements, a slow and weak pulse, and dilated pupils.
Vasovagal syncope can be diagnosed through physical exams, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiograms, exercise stress testing, blood tests, and tilt table tests. Furthermore, the treatment options for vasovagal syncope include medications (fludrocortisone acetate), therapies, and surgery (inserting an electrical pacemaker to regulate the heartbeat).
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the level of blood sugar is lower than the standard range. This medical condition causes loss of consciousness. Hypoglycemia is a well-known cause of coma, which can be resolved through glucose infusion. The symptoms of hypoglycemia include paleness, shakiness, sweating, headache, hunger, nausea, irregular fast heartbeat, fatigue, irritability or anxiety, difficulties in concentration, dizziness, tingling in lips, tongue, or cheek, confusion, loss of coordination, slurred speech, blurry vision, nightmares, unresponsiveness, and seizures.
Figure 01: Hypoglycemia
This medical condition can be diagnosed through physical examinations, medical history, and blood glucose tests. Furthermore, the treatments for this condition may include eating or drinking 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates, consuming juice, hard candy or glucose tablets, glucagon injection (Baqsimi, Dasiglucagon, and Gvoke), or intravenous glucose.
What are the Similarities Between Vasovagal Syncope and Hypoglycemia?
- Vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia are two medical conditions that can cause syncope (loss of consciousness).
- Both medical conditions may have similar symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, paleness, light-headedness, sweating, and blurred vision.
- They can be diagnosed through blood tests.
- Both medical conditions can be treated through specific medications.
What is the Difference Between Vasovagal Syncope and Hypoglycemia?
Vasovagal syncope is a medical condition in which an individual loses consciousness and faints when his or her body overreacts to certain triggers such as the sight of blood or extreme distress, while hypoglycemia is a medical condition that causes loss of consciousness due to lower blood sugar level. Thus, this is the key difference between vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia. Furthermore, vasovagal syncope is known as neurocardiogenic syncope, while hypoglycaemia is known as metabolic syncope.
The below infographic presents the differences between vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Vasovagal Syncope vs Hypoglycemia
Vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia are two conditions that cause loss of consciousness. Vasovagal syncope causes loss of consciousness due to the body overreacting to certain triggers like the sight of blood or extreme distress, while hypoglycemia causes loss of consciousness due to the level of blood sugar being low. So, this is the key difference between vasovagal syncope and hypoglycemia.
Reference:
1. “Vasovagal Syncope.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 19 Feb. 2021.
2. “Hypoglycemia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 4 May 2022.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Hypoglycemia” By Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia