“…This reduces end‐diastolic left ventricular filling, which, according to the Frank‐Starling principle, in turn, reduces the contractility of the left myocard. Indeed, end‐diastolic and stroke volume are found to be reduced in the upright position (Boudoulas, Barrington, Olson, Bashore, & Wooley, 1985; Chae & Suh, 1993; Frey et al, 1994; Shannon, Maher, Santinga, Royal, & Wei, 1991; Sherwood & Turner, 1993; Shoemaker et al, 2001; Toska & Walloe, 2002; Waldstein, Neumann, & Merrill, 1998). The decrease in stroke volume is compensated by an increase in heart rate that is secondary to vagal withdrawal and increased cardiac sympathetic activity.…”