Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Berisha, B.
Effects of Immobilization on the Cardiovascular System and Orthostatic Tolerance
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2014. pp. 54
[OPEN ACCESS]
FullText
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Berisha Bujar
- Advisor:
- Goswami Nandu
- Hinghofer-Szalkay Helmut
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Bed rest immobilization is known to cause cardiovascular changes. This thesis explores the physiology of cardiovascular regulation, and then discusses current literature that shows the relationship between cardiovascular system and immobilization. The aim of this thesis is to search the existing literature and provide current state of the art knowledge with regards to how cardiovascular system is regulated, paying particular attention to the role of the heart as well as blood vessels and how they are affected by the fluid shifts that occur during immobilization. Post-immobilization orthostatic intolerance is also discussed here. The relationship to differences in methodologies, subject/patient selection, types of interventions as well as differences in protocols are discussed. To obtain the relevant literature related to my topic I used PubMed as primary database. I explored only articles written in English and publicized from 1997 till 2014. Furthermore, Web of Science Database as well as the List of References were also used to find articles related to this thesis. To save and organize the references I used RefWorks. After literature search, I obtained 20 articles appropriate for my thesis and I classified them into three groups, based on the period of bed rest: 1) Less than 21 days (short term): These studies suggested significant amount of vascular deconditioning evidenced by decreases in endothelial function, increases in inflammation and arterial stiffening. 2) Between 21 and 60 days (medium term): These findings suggested an increase in heart rate and decrease in blood pressure and stroke volume contributing in this way to the development of orthostatic intolerance. 3) This group of studies evidenced an increase in heart rate and cardiac contraction, aimed to be induced by an elevated norepinephrine release as well as elevated sensitivity of cardiac adrenergic receptors after long term bed rest (up to 60 days). The knowledge gained from this work is particularly relevant for doctors working in the area of cardiology, immobilization, syncope as well as space flight research.