ISSN:
1469-8986
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
,
Psychology
Notes:
Twenty healthy male subjects, aged 18–29 yrs, were studied during three sequences of four different postural trials-sitting, sitting to standing, standing, and standing to sitting. The first sequence was a baseline, without other stimulation. In the remaining two, subjects performed a mental arithmetic task and an isometric handgrip task during each trial (counterbalanced). Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and skin conductance were recorded during the trials. The physiological responses to the two tasks were shown to vary as a function of the specific postural trial. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were generally more sensitive to these effects than heart rate or skin conductance. The two tasks facilitated increases in blood pressure during the sitting to standing trials, especially during the standing phase. The increases in blood pressure were comparable to those reported previously for voluntary control and biofeedback procedures. Mental and physical strategies are effective in increasing blood pressure during postural change and may be useful in the management of orthostatic hypotension.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.1988.tb00974.x
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