The Success of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Parameters in Persons With Different Levels of Blood Pressure

Abstract

Objective. The aim was to determine the nature of cardiovascular reactions during a single session of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback in order to increase vagal effects on heart rhythm in patients with different initial levels of blood pressure (BP). Participants and methods. 33 people with normal blood pressure (group I), 20 people with uncorrected arterial hypertension (AH) grade 1-2 (group II) and 22 people with AH grade 1-2 taking antihypertensive drugs (group III) were observed. The parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), BP and pulse oximetry in the initial stage, during a single HRV biofeedback session and after this session in order to increase the total power of the HRV spectrum (each stage was 5 min). Results. In patients of group II low success of HRV biofeedback session, a high sympathetic reactivity and reduced oxygen blood saturation were determined. A reactivity of vagal mechanism is more pronounced in persons of group III than in those of group II. It is reflected in a significant increase in their total power of the HRV spectrum compared to the initial values and in uptrend saturation levels during the biofeedback session. Conclusions. The ability to HRV biofeedback in order to increase the total power of the HRV spectrum for standard short recording (5 min) can be seen as a test to determine the safety reserves of vagal autonomic cardiovascular regulation in persons with increased blood pressure.

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback and Hypertension: Searching for A Correlated Stance

“…Monitoring HRV is a viable alternative option for hypertension [19]. In persons with increased blood pressure, there is an aptitude to improve the total power of the heart rate variability (HRV) continuum through HRVBF for vagal cardiovascular management claim [21]. While analysis of the HRV power spectrum accounts for some physiological mechanisms [5], there are environmental factors that also play crucial roles in the progress of hypertension [29].…”

“…In considering the questions espoused by this article, one needs to be cognizant of the parameters involved in both HRVBF, and HRV for a viable assessment of the sympathetic activities involved, and the effects of biofeedback [7]. Additionally, it is paramount to consider the effects of HRVBF based on its clinical outcomes (study design and comparison techniques with or without experimental or control group) in hypertension or varying levels of blood pressure [21].…”

Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability: A Risk Factor for Hypertension

“…On the contrary, randomized control trials that either included only unmedicated outpatients or statistically controlled for the effects of antihypertensive pharmacotherapy reported significant decreases in hypertension following HRVB compared to active control (Nolan et al, 2010;Palomba et al, 2011). In addition, studies examining the nature of cardiovascular reactions following HRVB suggested that this intervention is beneficial for patients treated with antihypertensive pharmacotherapy as it leads to pronounced reactivity of vagal mechanism (Poskotinova et al, 2013). This is of particular importance given that hypertensives treated pharmacologically still display significant decreases in VM-HRV compared to normotensives (Cowan et al, 1993;Liao et al, 1996;Mussalo et al, 2001).…”