Why do some people pass out at the sight of blood?

Source: Radio 021 Wednesday, 22.08.2018. 13:55
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Watching a scary movie with blood and gore can make some people’s skin crawl, but for others, even the possibility of real-life exposure to blood is a problem. The sight of blood or a needle, or sometimes even just hearing a story about it, can make these people pass out.

When you faint at the sight of blood, you’re experiencing vasovagal syncope, which makes your heart rate and blood pressure decrease drastically. When your blood pressure drops so suddenly, the lessened blood flow to your brain causes you to faint.

Unless you show signs of having chronic low blood pressure, fainting from the vasovagal response is not something to worry about.

There are also reasons that even healthy people faint that might not include seeing blood. If your fainting is random, however, you may want to see a doctor to make sure it is not a sign of a more serious condition.

Another reason people faint at the sight of blood could be an inherited trait. According to Fred Jaeger, DO, medical director of the Center for Syncope and Autonomic Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, fainting might be a response passed down from our caveman ancestors. Dr. Jaeger points out that vasovagal syncope may have been a trait passed down by those who lived to fight another day.


Once you know the clear signs that you’re about to faint, you can do things like lie down or sit and prop your legs up. This helps gravity keep the blood flowing to your brain. To recover quickly after fainting, use the applied tension technique to increase your blood flow again, Reader's Digest writes.
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