This past weekend my wife and I went to see Snow White and the Huntsman. Somewhat disappointed with the film and really nonplussed by Kristen Stewart's acting, we spent the drive home picking the film apart. When my wife wondered aloud if the movie would have been improved if the role of Snow White had been played by French Stewart rather that the Vampire Girl, I started laughing so hard I passed out. I was unconscious for almost a minute, purple faced, doubled over and making gurgling noises. I blacked out so fast I don't remember losing consciousness, just waking up. Hunh?
Well come to find out that there is a term for this rare event: Gelastic Syncope (gel-astic sin-coapee). When I started laughing I kind of held it in because we were in the car. The buildup of pressure in my torso produced an acute Valsalva maneuver, preventing blood from reaching my heart and in turn dropping the blood pressure in my brain. Thus, unconsciousness.
What medical oddities have you experienced?
