Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Genovese, MR.
The Effect of Mental Challenge on Vascular Resistance during Standing.
[ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] KING’S COLLEGE LONDON; 2016. pp.49.
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Goswami Nandu
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Cardiovascular dysfunctions can lead to an ineffective regulation of blood pressure by causing an insufficient sympathetic stimulation of peripheral vessels. This can result in orthostatic intolerance (OI). Mental arithmetic is known to increase sympathetic activity. In this study we propose the use of mental arithmetic as a countermeasure to OI. We demonstrated the effects of mental arithmetic in 12 healthy subjects (aged 25 ± 3 years, height 176 ± 8cm, weight 77 ± 15kg) by analyzing the time course changes in total peripheral resistance (TPR) in response to mental arithmetic during 3 different ‘sit to stand’ test protocols. These protocols included standing with the eyes open (control); standing and performing a mental task and standing whilst keeping the eyes closed. During each protocol a Task Force Monitor device (TFM; CN Systems, Graz, Austria) was used to obtain TPR data. Specific time periods of these protocols, or ‘epochs’ were selected for the time course analyses. Our main finding shows that significant increases (P<0.05) in TPR specifically occurred during the first 60 seconds of standing when performing mental arithmetic (mean + SD) (dyne*s*m²/cm^5) (1666±269; 2336±530; 2406±495; 2459± 423) compared to control (1478 ± 345; 2090 ± 598; 2027 ± 573; 2295 ± 357). We therefore suggest the use of mental arithmetic as an alternative countermeasure to OI if symptoms are observed immediately upon changing posture.