Heart rate and cardiac autonomic responses to concomitant deep breathing, hand grip exercise, and circulatory occlusion in healthy young adult men and women

BACKGROUND: Deep breathing (DB) and handgrip (HG) exercise -with and without circulatory occlusion (OC) in muscle-, have been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function; however, the combination of these maneuvers on heart rate (HR) and cardiac sympathovagal balance have not been previously investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of simultaneous DB, HG, and OC maneuvers on the sympathovagal balance in healthy women and men subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Electrocardiogram and ventilation were measured in 20 healthy subjects (Women: n = 10; age = 27 ± 4 years; weight = 67.1 ± 8.4 kg; and height = 1.6 ± 0.1 m. Men: n = 10; age = 27 ± 3 years; weight = 77.5 ± 10.1 kg; and height = 1.7 ± 0.1 m) at baseline and during DB, DB + HG, or DB + HG + OC protocols. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate were continuously recorded, and spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated to indirectly estimate cardiac autonomic function. Men and women showed similar HR responses to DB, DB + HG and DB + HG + OC. Men exhibited a significant HR decrease following DB + HG + OC protocol which was accompanied by an improvement in cardiac autonomic control evidenced by spectral changes in HRV towards parasympathetic predominance (HRV High frequency: 83.95 ± 1.45 vs. 81.87 ± 1.50 n.u., DB + HG + OC vs. base-line; p < 0.05). In women, there was a marked decrease in HR after completion of both DB + HG and DB + HG + OC tests which was accompanied by a significant increase in cardiac vagal tone (HRV High frequency: 85.29 ± 1.19 vs. 77.93 ± 0.92 n.u., DB + HG vs. baseline; p < 0.05). No adverse effects or discomfort were reported by men or women during experimental procedures. Independent of sex, combination of DB, HG, and OC was tolerable and resulted in decreases in resting HR and elevations in cardiac parasympathetic tone. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that combined DB, HG and OC are effective in altering cardiac sympathovagal balance and reducing resting HR in healthy men and women.

Assessment of Stress Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Different IQ-EQ Groups

There is individual variation in response to same type of stress depending on the IQ-EQ level. Stress effectsvarious parameters of higher mental functions such as attention, concentration, decision making, learning andmemory. Even the cognitive functions vary depending upon the variation in general and emotional level of aperson. This study was conducted on thirty-five healthy male volunteer students chosen randomly and aftertaking consent. The subjects were divided into four groups depending upon their IQ-EQ level. Parameters ofstress and cognitive functions were assessed between groups. Significant differences in four groups werefound for handgrip, ASS and serum cortisol. Low IQ high EQ and low IQ low EQ groups were most stressedout.

A study of cardiovascular sympathetic function tests during different phases of menstrual cycle in young females

Background:  Menstrual cycle is a regular coordinated physiological change in non-pregnant women. The variation of hormonal concentrations during different phases of the menstrual cycle has a profound influence on autonomic and metabolic activities. The present study was designed to assess the cardiovascular sympathetic functions during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal healthy eumenorrheic females.Methods:  Fifty females in the age group of 18-25 years were selected for the study. Non-invasive cardiovascular sympathetic function tests were performed during different phases of the menstrual cycle using RMS Polyrite D.Results: Results were analyzed using paired ‘t’ test. Resting blood pressure, blood pressure response to isometric handgrip test and cold pressor test were statistically significant higher (p-value <0.05), in the secretory phase as compared to menstrual and proliferative phase. Blood pressure response to orthostatic test was statistically significant between the proliferative and secretory phase and between menstrual and secretory phase (p-value <0.05).Conclusion: Our study shows that sympathetic activity is highest during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and lowest in the proliferative phase as compared to the menstrual phase. This higher sympathetic activity may be correlated with higher estrogen and progesterone levels during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The study also emphasizes the complex relationship between ovarian hormones and autonomic regulatory systems.

Cardiovascular Response to Exercise: Static v/s Dynamic.

Background: Limited research has been carried out to compare acute cardiovascular responses to static and dynamic exercise in older adult. So in our study we compared the responses to static and dynamic exercise in older adults to find out and support the inclusion of resistance exercise as a part of fitness program designed for healthy subjects of older age group. Aims & Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the acute cardiovascular responses of healthy older adults to static and dynamic exercise. Methods: In the present study 8 healthy normotensive volunteers, recruited in age group of 40-60 years, performed IHG exercise. Their HR and BP were recorded prior to and after one minute of 40% maximum voluntary contraction of the forearm. Then after a gap of two weeks subjects, performed dynamic exercise using ergo metric cycle. Their HR and BP were recorded prior to and after one minute of completion of exercise. All the recordings were compared before and after both types of exercise. Results: Both types of exercise led to significant rise in SBP, & HR. The rise in DBP was significant in subjects who performed static exercise only. From BP and HR responses, it is clear that acute responses to both exercises are almost similar, supporting the inclusion of static exercise in exercise programs for older adults. Conclusion: This study indicates that the press or response is well regulated in both exercise groups. This supports the inclusion of resistance exercise as part of an overall fitness program designed for healthy older adults.

Cardiovascular Responses to Isometric Handgrip Exercise

Isometric contractions of muscles in upper extremities occur frequently during ordinary daily activities. The isometric handgrip exercise can be one of the best methods for the evaluation and treatment of patients with disability of upper extremity. However these isometric contractions can impose sudden and significant high stresses to the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this study was to document the torque patterns and cardiovascular responses of subjects by the isometric handgrip exercises and hopefully to provide a guidance for the safe evaluations and prescriptions of isometric exercises. Eighty healthy male subjects from 21 to 60 years of age performed isometric handgrip exercises using a Baltimore therapeutic equipment work simulator. The peak torque, time to peak torque, and torque at each second were measured by a six-second isometric strength trial program. The blood pressure and heart rate were measured simultaneously at rest and at each minute during isometric exercises at 30%, 50%, and 70% of the peak torque. There were no differences in the peak torque, time to peak torque, and torque at each second between age groups(p>0.05). After the onset of peak torque, the torque gradually decreased and recorded 72.8% of the peak torque at 6 seconds. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate increased significantly during exercise(p<0.001), but returned to the resting state immediately when the exercise stopped. The mean arterial pressures were significantly different when the duration of exercise prolonged at 50% and 70% of the peak torque(p<0.05). And also the mean arterial pressures increased significantly when the strength of exercise increased as well(p<0.001). We have concluded that attentions should be given to patient's cardiovascular state, and duration and strengh of exercise when the isometric handgrip exercises are prescribed for the evaluation and treatment of patients.