Postural stress tests for the clinico-physiological evaluation of cardiovascular reflexes.

ABSTRACT

Postural stress tests are useful in the assessment of cardiovascular reflex response of normal subjects who may be involved in specialised occupations such as flying; in order to study the effects of physiological stresses such as heat stress, hypoxia, simulation of weightlessness; physiological evaluation of cosmonaut candidates, in patients who may have autonomic neuropathy. Most commonly quiet standing is used but head-up tilt table test and the application of lower body suction may provide a better method of evaluation. These three tests for assessing reflex cardiovascular function are discussed.