June 10, 2015
Story by Greg Harris; photo by Paul Rotzinger
For Angel Redisky and her family, an effective treatment for fainting can’t come too soon.
During her fainting episodes, which occurred about every 10 days, Redisky has wound up with bruises, cuts, rug burns and, once, she even broke a wall in a bathroom at work when she struck her head. She’d be unconscious for a few minutes.
“I have three granddaughters, but I’m not allowed to be alone with them,” Redisky says. “Sure, Nan can babysit, but someone else has to be there to babysit Nan.”
Redisky is among the 35 to 40 per cent of Canadians who experience syncope, which is the medical term for fainting. Now, Calgary researchers are hoping to solve the mystery of fainting by pinpointing possible genetic causes for this common and debilitating condition.
“Of the people who faint, about half will have fainted more than three or four times and many have fainted more than 20 times,” says Dr. Robert Sheldon, an Alberta Health Services (AHS) cardiologist and internationally recognized expert on the subject. “It has a tremendous impact on quality of life and can be compared to chronic back pain or severe arthritis.”
Aside from the serious physical injuries that can result when people suddenly lose consciousness, fainting can also take away freedoms, such as driving.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that some people have a terrible time of it at home and at work,” says Dr. Sheldon, also a professor in the Cumming School of Medicine and member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.
Physicians don’t have adequate treatments for syncope, even though many drugs have been tested. Effective treatment remains elusive, in part, because it’s not fully understood why some people experience syncope and others don’t.
Previous research has indicated fainting might have genetic origins, which has led Dr. Sheldon and co-investigator Dr. Brenda Gerull to establish the Calgary study on genetic susceptibility to syncope.
Their study is comparing the genes of 1,000 people who faint with 1,000 who don’t. To date, researchers have recruited 800 fainters and are looking for 200 more to complete their data collection. All that’s required is a saliva sample and completion of a questionnaire.
Dr. Sheldon’s research program has made Calgary one of the pre-eminent centres in the world for the study of syncope.
Redisky is hoping the study can give her some answers.
“I’ve had all the tests done and I’ve been in several clinical trials,” says Redisky. “It’s still really frustrating to hear the doctors say they don’t know why this is happening. For me, it’s a no-brainer to get involved in this research project.”
Although Redisky is able to continue to work in a clinic as a licensed practical nurse, her daughter Kara, 22, frequently accompanies her on other outings in case her mother faints.
To find out about participating in the study on genetic susceptibility to syncope, phone research co-ordinator Cindy Eronmwon at 403-220-8897 or email coeronmw@ucalgary.ca
