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Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
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The human ventilatory response to stress: rate or depth?
Michael J Tipton1, Abbi Harper2, Julian F R Paton3
1Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, UK.
The Journal of Physiology
|June 27, 2017
Summary
Stressors increase breathing rate (respiratory frequency, ƒR) more than breath depth (tidal volume, VT) as stress intensifies. This pattern may offer diagnostic insights for various clinical conditions.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Minute ventilation (V̇E) increases under stress, but this can result from varied changes in respiratory frequency (ƒR) and tidal volume (VT).
- Understanding how different stressors influence ƒR and VT is crucial for comprehending respiratory control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential impact of various stressors (cold, heat, hypoxia, pain, panic) on ƒR and VT contributions to V̇E.
- To explore potential underlying mechanisms and moderating factors (exercise, sex, intensity, duration) influencing these respiratory responses.
- To determine if distinct stressor types elicit unique patterns in ƒR and VT modulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of human studies examining respiratory responses to physiological and psychological stressors.
- Analysis of how changes in ƒR and VT contribute to minute ventilation (V̇E) under different stress conditions.
- Consideration of proposed neurophysiological and pathophysiological mechanisms governing respiratory control.
Main Results:
- Under extreme stress, minute ventilation (V̇E) is predominantly elevated by increased respiratory frequency (ƒR) rather than tidal volume (VT).
- Evidence suggests that the specific pattern of ƒR and VT changes may vary depending on the nature of the stressor.
- Moderating factors like exercise, sex, and stimulus intensity/duration can influence the observed respiratory patterns.
Conclusions:
- The control of respiratory frequency (ƒR) and tidal volume (VT) appears differentially regulated across various stressors.
- The specific modulation pattern of ƒR and VT may hold potential as a diagnostic biomarker for certain clinical conditions.
- Findings have broad implications for physiology, psychophysiology, neuroscience, and pathophysiology, particularly in understanding stress responses.
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