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Hyperventilation and amplified blood pressure response: is there a link?
J E Naschitz1, R Mussafia-Priselac, E R Peck
1Department of Internal Medicine A, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. Naschitz@tx.technion.ac.il
Journal of Human Hypertension
|April 20, 2005
Summary
This study found that hyperventilation (HV) during postural challenges did not increase blood pressure (BP). Postural hypertension was also not consistently linked to HV in patients evaluated for various conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Previous research suggested hyperventilation (HV) might contribute to hypertension.
- The pressor effect of HV and its role in hypertension require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hyperventilation and blood pressure changes during a postural challenge.
- To determine if hyperventilation is associated with postural hypertension.
Main Methods:
- A 30-minute head-up tilt test with capnography was performed on 320 patients.
- Hyperventilation was defined as end-tidal CO2 < 30 mmHg for >= 10 minutes.
- Postural hypertension was defined as diastolic BP >= 90 mmHg on tilt for >= 10 minutes.
Main Results:
- Postural hypertension occurred in 30 patients, with a mean diastolic BP change of +9.9 mmHg.
- Only three patients with postural hypertension also exhibited hyperventilation.
- Of patients without postural hypertension, 56 had hyperventilation, showing a mean diastolic BP change of -0.3 mmHg.
Conclusions:
- Posturally induced hyperventilation is not associated with increased blood pressure.
- Postural hypertension is not significantly associated with hyperventilation, except in a small subset of cases.