COVID-19 Vaccinations: "Allergic reaction" or A Vagal Response?

Let's talk about a common response to immunization: the vagal response. It's more than just fainting.

Causes

The vagal response involves your central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and cardiovascular system. When the reflex is triggered it causes an abrupt drop in blood pressure and a sudden reduction in heart rate.

The blood vessels in your legs may widen, causing blood to pool in your legs. This can further drop your blood pressure.

All of these changes can result in less blood flowing to your brain and trigger sensations that make you feel as if you might faint. At its worst, the reflex can result in an actual brief loss of consciousness, a condition known as vasovagal syncope.

It is important to know that experiencing episodes in which you have symptoms caused by a vagal response does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with you. It is thought that the reflex is universal.

Source: What Triggers the Vagal Response? https://www.verywellhealth.com/vasovagal-reflex-1945072

A note from a pediatrician friend, who was vaccinated a couple of days ago.

I got my first COVID19 vaccine and had a vagal light reaction to it (~10 min after I felt hot, nauseated, dizzy... Lasted 45 min). I'm fine. I wouldn't count it as a reaction.

There are also reports of Globus sensation (the feeling of having a lump in the throat when in fact there is nothing there. The sensation can come and go. It does not interfere with eating and drinking. The exact cause of globus sensation is uncertain. And headaches, racing heart, and similar. These may be anxiety symptoms.

But as I said, the symptoms quickly resolved. Even my arm pain was gone by 48 hours.

My concern is that lay people are going to claim that the vagal response to the COVID19 vaccine is an anaphylactic or allergic response, likewise the anxiety symptoms."

This was originally posted in the Facebook group,  Vaccine Talk: A Forum for Both Pro and Anti Vaxxers, and commenters had some excellent suggestions for managing vagal responses.

Commenter A: [My cardiologist] also taught me a cool trick......when I feel an onset (sounds like I'm underwater, black spots, warmth on back of my neck), cross my legs and squeeze hard for as long as I can. Then release. This restriction/release rushes the blood back up the body.

It works for me.

Commenter B:This is called the applied tension technique. Ever since I started doing this, I haven’t fainted once when doing blood draws! Tighten your leg and abdominal muscles. Prevents the blood from pooling in your legs

Commenter C:I get a vasovagal response when I think about things that make my body respond as if I'm in shock. To fight it, you have to contact your muscles all over your body rapidly like a football player running in place while squeezing your fists, etc.

This is a function called skeletal muscle milking that pumps your interstitial fluid. It has saved me from passing out many times. Also helps on long flights with little room for movement and it prevents your feet from swelling up from being idle.

Commenter D:Totally me when I get injections or when they draw blood. I almost fainted when I got my tattoo. I never thought there were so many people with this issue. We should start a club.

Feel free to share this with friends who are concerned about reports of "adverse reactions" to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines