Respiration
and Blood Pressure
B.
Gianfranco Parati, MD, FAHA, FESC; Joseph L. Izzo, Jr, MD; Benjamin Gavish, PhD
Key Points:
- Cyclic
respiratory movements cause variability in heart rate and blood pressure at the
respiratory frequency.
- The mechanism of respiratory-induced cardiovascular
variability are mechanical, neural, and metabolic, involving volume alterations,
cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreceptors, and chemoreceptors
- A
number of pathologic conditions, including congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiac tamponade, are characterized
by significant respiration-induced changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
- Chronic use of slow-breathing exercises reduces sympathetic activity, vasodilator, and lowers blood pressure.
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