Autonomic Function Tests in Asthmatics of Age 25-46 Years in Central India

Introduction: Increased parasympathetic drive in asthmatics is observed by many researchers. However, some have found increased sympathetic activity and others found it decreased.Materials and Methods: A case–control study was planned including 30 asthmatic patients and 30 age-matched non-asthmatics as controls. Spirometry and autonomic functions were tested, and results of the mean difference were compared using the Student t-test.Results: Out of 30 asthmatics, 76% were in mild-to-moderate grade of asthma on the basis of their forced expiratory volume in the first second % values. Rise in diastolic blood pressure with cold pressor test was significantly less in asthmatics than controls (5.66 ± 3.415 and 11.73 ± 4.49 mmHg; P < 0.001). The mean Valsalva ratio in asthmatics was significantly less than in controls (1.158 ± 0.116 and 1.418 ± 0.645; P < 0.05). Galvanic skin resistance in asthmatics was significantly more than in controls (589.8 ± 268.12 and 328.75 ± 165.07; P < 0.001).Conclusions: Thus, from our study, there was increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic drive in patients with bronchial asthma as compared to controls

Effect of yoga on cardiovascular system in subjects above 40 years.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of yoga on cardiovascular function in subjects above 40 yrs of age. Pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and Valsalva ratio were studied in 50 control subjects (not doing any type of physical exercise) and 50 study subjects who had been practicing yoga for 5 years. From the study it was observed that significant reduction in the pulse rate occurs in subjects practicing yoga (P<0.001). The difference in the mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between study group and control group was also statistically significant (P<0.01 and P<0.001 respectively). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed significant positive correlation with age in the study group (r1 systolic= 0.631 and r1 diastolic = 0.610) as well as in the control group (r2 systolic = 0.981 and r2 diastolic = 0.864). The significance of difference between correlation coefficient of both the groups was also tested with the use of Z transformation and the difference was significant (Z systolic= 4.041 and Z diastolic= 2.901). Valsalva ratio was also found to be significantly higher in yoga practitioners than in controls (P<0.001). Our results indicate that yoga reduces the age related deterioration in cardiovascular functions.