Biomaterial Database

Effect of position on cardiovascular response during the Valsalva maneuver. 1990

B L Metzger, and B Therrien

School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) has frequently been associated with the Valsalva maneuver (VM), which is characterized by sudden intense changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manipulating body position on the intensity of SBP and HR changes during the VM. Thirty-two men and 32 women (35-55 years) without a history or signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were studied. Subjects produced a VM of 40 mmHg for 10 seconds in each of five randomly assigned bed (flat, sidelying, 30 degrees elevated, 70 degrees elevated) and chair positions. Age covaried with SBP and HR responses to the VM. When age relationships were factored out, the most intense changes in SBP during the VM occurred in the 30 degrees and 70 degrees elevated and chair positions. Persons with a history of atherosclerotic CVD, on bedrest, should be positioned with head of the bed flat to reduce cardiovascular risks associated with the VM.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D002318	Cardiovascular Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM.	Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D005260	Female		Females
D006339	Heart Rate	The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute.	Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age