The effect of age on blood flow in response to the Valsalva manoeuver
Khurana, I.; Singh, P.I.; Maini, B.K.
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 39(12): 294-297
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5359 PMID: 3833714 Document Number: 260035
It is suggested that estimation of blood flow could also be used as a simple method to assess the efficacy of circulatory responses. In order to study the effect of age on haemodynamic responses, the influence of the Valsalva test was observed on the forearm blood flow (FAFB) and heart rate in young (19-20 years) and old (59-80 years) human subjects. The FABF was estimated in the resting state, during straining (phase 2) and at the end of straining (phase 4). The results showed that the resting FAFB and the increase in blood flow in phase 4 were significantly less in the older group as compared to young adults. The observations also revealed a marked diminution in heart rate responses in different phases of the Valsalva test in old age as compared to the young. The results indicated that consideration must be given to age while assessing circulatory efficiency by stressful testing. The observations also show that like heart rate the determination of FABF can also serve a simple method for assessing circulatory responses.