The Surprising Connection Between Heart and Brain That Can Leave You Breathless

Scientists have discovered a pathway between the heart and brain that may explain why healthy individuals faint. This pathway carries signals from the heart's lower chambers to a region in the brainstem that controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. When nerve cells along this pathway were stimulated in mice, they experienced a drop in heart rate and ultimately fainted. This finding provides a biological explanation for fainting not caused by an underlying medical condition. Understanding this pathway is particularly important in the context of COVID-19, as the disease often affects the autonomic system. The discovery could lead to new treatments for fainting and related conditions.