Assessment of Cardiovascular Autonomic Functions and Baroreceptor Reactivity in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome.

Objectives: The study was conducted to assess the autonomic status of women with mild PMS using shortterm heart rate variability (HRV) analysis and conventional autonomic function tests (CAFT). Methods: Sixty females in the age group 17-25 years with mild premenstrual syndrome were identified using a self-report questionnaire, the shortened premenstrual assessment form. HRV and CAFTs were recorded 1- 5 days prior and 8-10 days after menstruation. Results: The subjects showed a significant increase in HR and SBP in luteal phase. In HRV, an increase in mean HR and LF-HF ratio were seen in the luteal phase whereas an increase in the NN50, RMSSD and pNN50, HF, HF(nu) and TP were seen in the follicular phase. In CAFT, no change in HRB, 30:15 and E/ I ratios but increase in ?DBP(ihg) in the luteal phase was seen. Conclusion: The increase in HR and SBP in the luteal phase could be because increased water and salt retention due to the ovarian steroids. A decrease in HRV, increase in ?DBPihg with no change in 30:15 ratio in the luteal phase could be attributed to delayed withdrawal of ovarian hormones in the luteal phase.

Community Outreach Program on Healthy Weight Week to Create Awareness on the Influence of Behavioral Factors on Body Mass Index in School Children.

Healthy Weight Week, January 19th-25th, 2014, celebrates healthy non-diet lifestyles that can prevent eating and weight problems. The prevalence of child obesity is increasing rapidly worldwide. The behavioral factors such as television watching, exercise, internet browsing, videogames and fast food consumption along with academic stress greatly contributes to obesity. Aim of our study was to impart knowledge, to create awareness on obesity and to correlate the BMI with their behavioral factors among 65 school children. After creating awareness and informing about their BMI they were asked to answer a questionnaire about their behavior pattern. The Karl Pearson correlation co-efficient was used for analysis of data, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The obese children correlated with more hours of television watching and less exercise. The number of hours of video games played and fast food consumption correlated well with the BMI. The academic stress negatively correlated with BMI. An awareness on BMI, obesity, fast food, exercising regularly, sedentary lifestyle created by television watching, playing videogames and internet browsing was done among the school children of Mangalore. The students gave feedback of usefulness of the program conducted on healthy weight week.