Editorials Open access

A practice teaching from GIMSI (Italian Multidisciplinary Syncope Group) 2025: yoga as a treatment for recurrent vasovagal syncope

Authors

Published
10 March 2025
Section
Editorials
DOI
10.4081/ecj.2025.13810

Abstract

The XII Italian National Congress of GIMSI (Italian Multidisciplinary Syncope Group) has taken place in Milan on February 6-7, 2025. This report summarizes a practice teaching from the congress regarding the role of yoga and physical exercise in managing Vasovagal Syncope (VVS).

VVS is a very common clinical condition with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 35%1 and a frequent reason for emergency department visits.2 Although VVS is not associated with an increased rate of mortality, there is a significant deterioration in the Quality Of Life (QoL) in conjunction with the severity and frequency of recurrences.3

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, such as elastic compression stocking, dietary modification with oral rehydration salts and increased salt intake, tilt training (also known as standing training), and physical counter-pressure manoeuvres, have demonstrated only limited and modest efficacy, which can be frustrating for both patients and clinicians.4,5 There is no single uniformly accepted protocol to prevent VVS recurrences and some patients with recurrent syncope end up being submitted to procedures, such as pacemaker implantation or cardioneuroablation. The latter is showing promising results, but it is an invasive manoeuvre, and its long-term effects are unknown.6 [...]

Keywords

References

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