Is carotid sinus hypersensitivity serious?
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity is an exaggerated response to pressure applied to the carotid sinus located in the carotid bifurcation, resulting in bradycardia, vasodilation, and hypotension. This response is manifested clinically as syncope or presyncope and can cause fatal consequences.
How is carotid sinus hypersensitivity treated?
In this setting, cardiac pacing is probably the procedure of choice. In those patients, however, who have syncope or near-syncope associated with a hypersensitive carotid sinus and who have no evidence of a cardiac conduction defect, the treatment of choice is probably carotid sinus denervation.
How common is carotid sinus hypersensitivity?
CSH is rare before the age of 50. CSH is the most commonly reported cause of falls and syncope in older people. The prevalence of CSH in elderly patients presenting with falls is estimated as being about 25%.
What are the symptoms of carotid sinus syndrome?
History
- Recurrent dizziness, near-syncope.
- Recurrent syncope.
- Nonaccidental, unexplained falls.
- Symptoms produced by head turning or wearing garments with tight-fitting collars.
- Neck tumors, extensive neck scarring secondary to radical dissection or radiation fibrosis or neck trauma.
What happens when carotid sinus is stimulated?
In these individuals, stimulation of carotid sinus baroreceptors results in a more significant than expected decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. In such personalities, even shaving the neck, turning the neck, or looking upward may cause attacks of syncope and loss of consciousness.
How can the carotid sinus cause sudden death?
Carotid sinus reflex death is a potential etiology of sudden death in which manual stimulation of the carotid sinus allegedly causes strong glossopharyngeal nerve (Vagus nerve is for aortic arch baroreceptors) impulses leading to terminal cardiac arrest.
What causes carotid sinus reflex?
The carotid sinus reflex occurs with changes in transmural pressure of the baroreceptors at the carotid sinus. Afferent signals are sent via glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves to the nucleus tractus solitarius. Efferent signaling occurs through sympathetic and vagus nerves to the heart and blood vessels.
What is the difference between carotid sinus and carotid body?
The carotid sinus usually appears as a dilation of the lower end of the internal carotid in late adolescence (Seong et al 2005) and functions as a baroreceptor. The carotid body is a reddish-brown, oval structure, 5–7 mm in height and 2.5–4 mm in width.
How can you tell if your carotid artery is blocked?
Symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, often on only one side of the body.
- Sudden trouble speaking and understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.