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Paced breathing can prevent vasovagal syncope during head-up tilt testing
Kathrine Jáuregui-Renaud1, Manlio F Márquez, Antonio G Hermosillo
1Unidad de Investigación Médica, HG Centro Médico Nacional La Raza IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico.
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology
|May 29, 2003
Summary
Paced breathing, a technique to control heart rate, was found to prevent vasovagal syncope during head-up tilt tests. This suggests respiratory training may be a viable method for preventing fainting episodes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Clinical observations suggest heart rate control via paced breathing may prevent syncope.
- Vasovagal syncope is a common condition often diagnosed using head-up tilt testing (HUT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of metronome-paced breathing (0.2 Hz) in preventing syncope during HUT in patients with a history of vasovagal syncope.
Main Methods:
- Ten patients with positive HUT results underwent a second HUT with metronome-paced breathing (0.2 Hz).
- Continuous electrocardiography was used to record data, and heart rate variability was analyzed.
- Patients had no cardiovascular or neurological diseases and a mean age of 18.4 years.
Main Results:
- Only one patient experienced syncope, bradycardia, and hypotension during HUT with paced breathing (P<0.01).
- Compared to spontaneous breathing, paced breathing resulted in a significantly greater heart rate increase in the first minute of tilt (16 +/- 12 vs. 4 +/- 6 beats/min, P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Paced breathing effectively prevented HUT-induced vasovagal syncope in the studied patients.
- Respiratory training may serve as a beneficial strategy for preventing vasovagal syncope.