Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a naturally occurring variation in heart rate that occurs during a breathing cycle. RSA is also a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity - which denotes "rest and digest" behaviours.
[edit] Overview
Heart rate increases during inhalation and decreases during exhalation. Heart rate is normally controlled by centers in the medulla oblongata. One of these centers, the nucleus ambiguus, increases parasympathetic nervous system input to the heart via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve decreases heart rate by decreasing the firing rate of the sinoatrial node (the "pace-maker" tissue of the heart). Upon expiration the cells in the nucleus ambiguus are activated and heart rate is slowed down. In contrast, inspiration triggers inhibitory signals to the nucleus ambiguus and consequently the vagus nerve remains unstimulated.
On an electrocardiogram ECG this phenomenon is seen as subtle changes in the R-R interval (time between two of the distinctive, large, upward "R" spikes on an electrocardiogram) synchronized with respiration. The R-R interval on an ECG is shortened during inspiration and prolonged during expiration. RSA is very pronounced in children, but without sufficient cardiovascular exercise it gradually disappears in the teens. Adults in excellent cardiovascular health, such as endurance runners, swimmers, and bicyclists, are also likely to have a pronounced RSA. Meditation and relaxed breathing techniques can temporarily induce RSA. RSA becomes less prominent with age, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.[1]
Previous studies have shown that the efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange is improved by RSA, suggesting that RSA may play an active physiologic role. The matched timing of alveolar ventilation and its perfusion with RSA within each respiratory cycle could save energy expenditure by suppressing unnecessary heartbeats during expiration and ineffective ventilation during the ebb of perfusion (delivery of blood from arteries to capillaries for oxygenation and nutrition).
Furthermore, evidence has accumulated of a possible dissociation between RSA and vagal control of that heart rate, suggesting differential controls between the respiratory modulation of cardiac vagal outflow and cardiac vagal tone. RSA or heart rate variability in synchrony with respiration is a biological phenomenon, which may have a positive influence on gas exchange at the level of the lung via efficient ventilation/perfusion matching.[2]
Historically, respiratory sinus arrhythmia was believed to be pathological, and extended bed rest was traditionally prescribed; work by Sir James Mackenzie disproved these ideas.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ "Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia". http://www.adinstruments.com/education/experiments/teach_experiments/full.php?exp_id=198&name_id=259&template=teaching. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ^ Chest. 2004 Feb;125(2):683-90 Yasuma F et al.
- ^ Moorhead R. (Jan 1999). "Sir James Mackenzie (1853-1925): views on general practice education and research". J R Soc Med 92 (1): 38–43. PMC 1297041. PMID 10319040. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1297041.
- Neff RA, Wang J, Baxi S, Evans C, Mendelowitz D (2003). "Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: endogenous activation of nicotinic receptors mediates respiratory modulation of brainstem cardioinhibitory parasympathetic neurons". Circ. Res. 93 (6): 565–72. doi:10.1161/01.RES.0000090361.45027.5B. PMID 12907666. http://circres.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/6/565.
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