hubby's grandmother keeps passing out

[Pea-n-Me]

They did call it a "vasal vagal" response however my nurse friends argue with me and tell me that is a crock.

I would also argue it's a real phenomenon. Parasympathetic stimulation of the vagus nerve (often during straining via coughing, when in pain, having BM, etc) causes the heart to "slow down" - sometimes to the point of passing out. Not fun.

PS this is not to say this is what grandmother has. Just that it can happen. There can be many causes for passing out, and they're often either neurological or cardiac in nature. I hope they can sort it out for her.