Squatting, blood pressure and stroke.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-87645
ABSTRACT
Most Indians still adopt squatting posture in toilets. In a group of 67 healthy volunteers, squatting produced a small (8.09 +/- 7.04 mm Hg) but significant rise in systolic blood pressure (SBP) but not in diastolic (DBP). However, in a group of randomly selected treated hypertensives (N=104) squatting produced a much greater and significant rise in both SBP (14.46 +/- 11.63 mm Hg) and DBP (9.10 +/- 9.19 mm Hg). The possible clinical significance of this rise of BP in squatting has been evaluated in 100 consecutive CT proved patients with stroke by analysing their stroke onset data in relation to time, place, posture and activity. Most strokes (52%) occurred in the morning hours (5 am-9 am) and at home (86%) and over a third (36%) while in toilets. Thirty six percent of strokes occurred when the subjects squatted, mostly during defecation. More than half of hemorrhagic strokes occurred in the squatting position. The relationship of these clinical observations with the BP changes noted above on squatting appears to be more than fortuitous. We would suggest that hypertensive subjects and those at risk of stroke should avoid squatting and urge physicians to check squatting BP while monitoring anti-hypertensive therapy.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Posture
/
Blood Pressure
/
Aged, 80 and over
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Adult
/
Stroke
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Aged80
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
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