Respiratory effect on the pulse spectrum

Abstract

During the last decade, progressive achievements in haemodynamics have shown that radial artery pulse pressure can be used to estimate the vascular properties of the internal organs. Clinical experiments have shown that slow and regular respiration has a large effect on the heart rate variability (HRV). This phenomenon is called respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). It is known that respiration-related oscillations in venous return cause oscillations in stroke volume and blood pressure. It also can be inferred from cardiac output that systemic blood pressure has a similar respiration-related cycle. Moreover we found that the fluctuations of harmonics of arterial pulse are consistent with the fluctuation of HRV. This means that the whole cardiovascular system (CVS) makes rapid adaptation during respiration, and the harmonic proportions of arterial pulse were modified during different breath rates. This result shows that the regular respiration also has a large effect upon Windkessel properties of CVS.

The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human

“…The rate of respiration is known to affect haemodynamics. A study in which the arterial pulse ( via heart rate and oscillometric arterial blood pressure) and peripheral resistance were analysed in healthy humans instructed to perform paced deep breathing at 20, 15, 10 and 6 breaths per min found that the rate of respiration affects the harmonics of the blood pressure pulse, which is related to the resistance of the peripheral vasculature, compliance of the aorta and hence venous return, such that slow respiration causes blood pulse fluctuations to synchronise with the heart beat rhythm [ 29 ]. Slow breathing towards a rate of 6 breaths per min has been said to result in increased venous return [ 30 ].…”

“…While changes in the cardiovascular system can induce changes in respiration, the influence that respiration has on the cardiovascular system is reportedly stronger [ 25 , 29 , 30 , 39 , 40 ]. Studies in healthy humans have found that controlled slow breathing, particularly at 6 breaths per min, is associated with an increase in fluctuations of both blood pressure and heart rate, compared to breathing at a typical rate [ 21 , 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Studies in healthy humans have found that controlled slow breathing, particularly at 6 breaths per min, is associated with an increase in fluctuations of both blood pressure and heart rate, compared to breathing at a typical rate [ 21 , 41 , 42 ]. Some hypothesise that this reflects a buffering of respiratory-related haemodynamic fluctuations due to synchronisation of the pulsating blood flow to the rhythm of the heartbeat [ 29 , 41 ]. Several studies have also reported significantly decreased mean blood pressure during controlled slow respiration, which would support this hypothesis [ 30 , 41 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Hemodynamic Changes in the Brachial Artery Induced by Acupuncture Stimulation on the Lower Limbs: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Blood flow changes rapidly in the arteries of the extremities, especially in the peripheral arteries [26]. Changes in venous return due to respiration cause oscillations in stroke volume and blood pressure [27]. Thus, the arterial pulse should be modified by breathing [28].…”

Blood Flow Volume as an Indicator of the Effectiveness of Traditional Medicine

“…The use of this system avoids operator bias, increases reproducibility, and improves accuracy. It is reported that changes in venous return due to respiration cause oscillation of the stroke volume and blood pressure (Hsieh et al, 2003). Thus, the arterial pulse should be modified by breathing (Korpas et al, 2006).…”