Though the incidence of hypertension has increased considerably in recent years, the pathophysiologic mechanism that causes progression from stage of prehypertension to hypertension has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the sympathovagal imbalance in prehypertensives and hypertensives by spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) to understand the nature of change in autonomic balance in this common dysfunction of mankind. Body mass index (BMI), basal heart rate (BHR), blood pressure (BP), and spectral indices of HRV such as total power (TP), normalized low frequency power (LFnu), normalized high frequency power (HFnu), ratio of low frequency power to high frequency power (LF-HF ratio), mean heart rate (mean RR), square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal to normal intervals (RMSSD), the number of interval differences of successive NN intervals greater than 50 ms (NN50), and the proportion derived by dividing NN50 by the total number of NN intervals (pNN50) were assessed in three groups of subjects: normotensives (n = 32), prehypertensives (n = 28), and hypertensives (n = 31). Sympathovagal balance was analyzed and correlated with BMI, BHR, and BP in all the groups. It was observed that autonomic imbalance in prehypertensives was due to proportionate increased sympathetic activity and vagal inhibition, whereas in hypertensives, vagal withdrawal was more prominent than sympathetic overactivity. The LF-HF ratio, the sensitive indicator of sympathovagal balance, was significantly correlated with BMI, BHR, and BP. It was concluded that vagal inhibition plays an important role in the critical alteration of sympathovagal balance in the development of clinical hypertension in prehypertensive subjects.
Salt preference is associated with sympathovagal imbalance caused by sympathetic overactivity and vagal withdrawal. Sympathovagal imbalance is more intense in salt-preferring prehypertensives compared with salt-preferring normotensives. Sympathovagal imbalance in salt-preferring subjects is independent of BMI. Thus, salt-preferring subjects should be encouraged to restrict salt intake to maintain their sympathovagal balance and BP homeostasis.
BackgroundAnxiety and stress in COVID-19 lead to continual pro-inflammatory cytokine activity resulting in excessive inflammation. Levels of different bio indices of COVID-19 may predict clinical outcomes and the severity of COVID-19 disease and may correlate with anxiety and stress levels. ObjectivesTo measure the level of anxiety in COVID-19 patients using the coronavirus anxiety scale (CAS) as an assessment of psychological stress. To measure the levels of blood biomarkers and biochemical and hematological markers of inflammation in COVID-19. To record and measure the indices of short-term HRV in COVID-19 patients to assess their physiological and psychological stress levels. To determine the relationship between anxiety scores, levels of laboratory indices (blood biomarkers), and HRV parameters across mild, moderate and severe cases of COVID-19. Material and methodA total of 300 COVID-19 patients aged between 18 and 55 years were included. A questionnaire-based CAS was used to assess anxiety levels. Short-term HRV was recorded to measure stress. Blood biomarkers: Biochemical and hemato-cytological markers of inflammation were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software version 20.0. ResultsAnxiety and stress increased with the severity of COVID-19. A positive correlation was detected between anxiety and serum ferritin, IL-6, MCV, and MCH levels, and a negative correlation between the corona anxiety score and RBC count. The increase in the severity of COVID-19 showed elevated levels of WBC count, neutrophil%, platelet count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, serum ferritin, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased lymphocyte and monocyte percentages. The increase in the severity of COVID-19 decreased lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts. ConclusionThe Corona Anxiety Scale and heart rate variability can be used as complementary tools to index COVID-19related anxiety and stress. An association exists between immune dysregulation and heart rate variability, which can be used to predict the inflammatory response and prognosis of COVID-19.
Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective child survival interventions which is practiced throughout the world. All countries in the world have an immunization programme to deliver selected vaccines to the targeted beneficiaries, specially focusing on pregnant women, infants and children, who are at a high risk of diseases preventable by vaccines. In India, six vaccines for preventable diseases (VPD) to reduce childhood mortality & morbidity ie. BCG, DPT, OPV, TT was coming into practice in 1978, after WHO immunization programme that was launched in 1974. The purpose of this study was to determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of mothers regarding their understanding of immunization in rural areas in and around Pondicherry through the questionnaire is prepared in English and Tamil. Methods: Five hundred and one mothers of children from 0 to 5 years of age were included in the study. Questionnaire was carried out in mothers to assess the following parameters; The age of the mother, educational status, socioeconomic status, awareness and knowledge of immunization in previous siblings, knowledge about newer vaccines. Results: Out of 501 mothers included in the study, the mean age of the mother whose child undergoing vaccination is 25.88+4 years. The predominant mothers have completed higher education and mean annual income was 86,682.00. Birth order of the child showed no significance. Majority of children (62.6%) included in the study were born at Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital. The results were analyzed through chi square test and they were significant for role of education (p value = 0.000), effect on maternal age (p value = 0.000) and not significant with birth order. Finally, correlating the effect of Delivery Place on antenatal vaccine awareness, Children who were born at ACMCH, showed higher significance rate in the knowledge of Antenatal Vaccine (p value = 0.000), proper dosage to be given (p value = 0.034), primary vaccination (p value = 0.000). Also, they were not aware of special vaccination (p value = 0.025) and the risk of not immunizing their children (p value = 0.016). Conclusions: Vaccination is the cost-effective preventive intervention carried out by the government to completely eliminate the preventable diseases by vaccines. There is a 100% immunization coverage up to 18 months were recorded for children born at our hospital. This is because of the incentive schemes practiced at our institute. The knowledge and awareness of antenatal vaccination is approximately 70-80 % of the mother's. Over all 30% of mothers are not aware that immunization can be done during minor ailments and after minor adverse reactions. Health professionals play a major role in creating both Immunization awareness and administration in prescribed date to mothers. In spite of awareness through various sources, knowledge on special vaccination to mothers is yet very poor. Initiative programme has to be taken to overcome this.
Almost all organs systems in the body are under the influence of autonomic nervous system (ANS) for maintaining homeostatic regulatory functions. Many of the present lifestyle related disorders like hypertension and obesity have their primary pathology in the homeostatic derangements. Childhood overweight and high blood pressure increase the risk of subsequent obesity and hypertension in adulthood. To the best of our knowledge there is no sufficient qualitative and quantitative data in childhood which restricts the use of this tool in scientific medical practice and in understanding the occurrence of these systemic diseases in near future. The plan of our study is to assess the classical cardiovascular autonomic functions tests in school children and to generate normative data to validate the subtle variations present in childhood for an earlier intervention.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.