Enhancement of efferent vagal tone in humans

Author

Kamath, M.V. ; Tougas, G. ; Upton, A.R.M. ; Fallen, E.L. ; Watteel, G. ; Fitzpatrick, D. ; Venkatesh, G. ; Connolly, S. ; Dixon, E. ; McCartney, N. ; Yusuf, S.

Author_Institution

McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ont., Canada

fYear

1994

fDate

25-28 Sept. 1994

Firstpage

309

Lastpage

312

Abstract

Increased sympathetic tone with a concomitant depressed vagal tone predisposes cardiac patients to unstable tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Enhancement of vagal tone has been suggested as a possible tool to counter the deleterious effects of increased sympathetic activity. The authors have examined four methods of increasing vagal tone in humans: through pharmacological means, electrical and mechanical stimulation of the esophagus and exercise training. Power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability has been used to monitor the effects of these interventions in healthy controls and patients.<>

Keywords

cardiology; neurophysiology; patient treatment; cardiac patients; concomitant depressed vagal tone; electrical stimulation; esophagus; exercise training; healthy controls; heart rate variability; human efferent vagal tone enhancement; increased sympathetic activity countering; mechanical stimulation; pharmacological treatment; power spectral analysis; sudden cardiac death; therapeutic effects monitoring; unstable tachyarrhythmias; Electrical stimulation; Electrocardiography; Esophagus; Frequency domain analysis; Heart rate; Heart rate measurement; Heart rate variability; Humans; Patient monitoring; Spectral analysis;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Computers in Cardiology 1994

Conference_Location

Bethesda, MD, USA

Print_ISBN

0-8186-6570-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CIC.1994.470187

Filename

470187