Effect of residence at altitude on the perception of breathlessness on return to sea level in normal subjects

1993 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel C. Wilson ◽  
W. L. G. Oldfield ◽  
P. W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Cycle Ergometer ◽  
Respiratory Frequency ◽  
Borg Scale ◽  
Oxygen Pulse ◽  
Ventilatory Equivalent

1. The effect of residence at altitude on the perception of breathlessness after return to sea level was examined in normal subjects. Breathlessness (Borg scale), minute ventilation, respiratory frequency, tidal volume, ‘oxygen pulse’ (oxygen consumption/heart rate) and the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (minute ventilation/oxygen consumption) were measured at exercise (cycle-ergometer) during 5 months of training before 4 weeks at 4000 m and during the 6 month period after return to sea level. 2. There was no change in the subjects' pattern of breathing (respiratory frequency and tidal volume) or ‘oxygen pulse’ after the period at altitude (P = 0.0001). The ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was increased at all work rates after the period at altitude (P = 0.02). This ratio was slightly lower after 6 weeks and had returned to normal by 6 months (P = 0.4). 3. During training there was no change in breathlessness score (P = 0.6). On return to sea level, breathlessness score relative to ventilation was reduced (P = 0.0001). This was maintained for at least 6 weeks, but not as long as 6 months. 4. This study has demonstrated that, in normal subjects, the otherwise stable and reproducible relationship between breathlessness and ventilation may be disrupted for several weeks by factors other than lung disease. 5. The mechanism responsible for this is not clear, but the observations are consistent with the hypothesis that prior experience of breathlessness may condition subsequent estimates of breathlessness.

Ventilatory response to hypoxia in unanesthetized newborn kittens

1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 2544-2551 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Rigatto ◽  
C. Wiebe ◽  
C. Rigatto ◽  
D. S. Lee ◽  
D. Cates
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Chest Wall ◽  
Ventilatory Response ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Frequency ◽  
Quiet Sleep ◽  
Newborn Kitten ◽  
Peripheral Mechanism ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Ventilatory Response To Hypoxia

We studied the ventilatory response to hypoxia in 11 unanesthetized newborn kittens (n = 54) between 2 and 36 days of age by use of a flow-through system. During quiet sleep, with a decrease in inspired O2 fraction from 21 to 10%, minute ventilation increased from 0.828 +/- 0.029 to 1.166 +/- 0.047 l.min-1.kg-1 (P less than 0.001) and then decreased to 0.929 +/- 0.043 by 10 min of hypoxia. The late decrease in ventilation during hypoxia was related to a decrease in tidal volume (P less than 0.001). Respiratory frequency increased from 47 +/- 1 to 56 +/- 2 breaths/min, and integrated diaphragmatic activity increased from 14.9 +/- 0.9 to 20.2 +/- 1.4 arbitrary units; both remained elevated during hypoxia (P less than 0.001). Younger kittens (less than 10 days) had a greater decrease in ventilation than older kittens. These results suggest that the late decrease in ventilation during hypoxia in the newborn kitten is not central but is due to a peripheral mechanism located in the lungs or respiratory pump and affecting tidal volume primarily. We speculate that either pulmonary bronchoconstriction or mechanical uncoupling of diaphragm and chest wall may be involved.

Influence of prior ventilatory experience on the estimation of breathlessness during exercise

1990 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel C. Wilson ◽  
P. W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Test ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Resistive Load ◽  
Inspiratory Time ◽  
Borg Scale ◽  
Exercise Tests ◽  
Loaded Breathing ◽  
Inspiratory Load

1. The intensity of breathlessness was measured during exercise in nine normal subjects using a modified Borg scale to examine the effect of prior experience of breathlessness on subsequent estimates of breathlessness. 2. Each subject performed four exercise tests, each of which consisted of two identical runs of workload incrementation (run 1 and run 2). An inspiratory resistive load of 3.8 cmH2O s−1 l−1 was applied during the appropriate run of the exercise test to examine the effect of (a) prior experience of ‘loaded’ breathing on breathlessness estimation during ‘unloaded’ breathing, and (b) prior experience of ‘unloaded’ breathing on breathlessness estimation during ‘loaded’ breathing. Run 1 was the conditioning run; run 2 was the run in which the effect of conditioning was measured. 3. There was a good correlation between breathlessness and minute ventilation during both unloaded’ breathing (median r = 0.93) and ‘loaded’ breathing (median r = 0.95). 4. The slope of the Borg score/minute ventilation relationship was greater during ‘loaded’ breathing than during ‘unloaded’ breathing (P < 0.01). There was no difference in mean Borg score between ‘unloaded’ and ‘loaded’ breathing. 5. After a period of ‘loaded’ breathing during run 1, estimated breathlessness was significantly reduced during ensuing ‘unloaded’ breathing in run 2 (P < 0.01) compared with the exercise test in which ‘unloaded’ breathing was experienced throughout both run 1 and run 2. 6. After a period of ‘unloaded’ breathing in run 1, estimated breathlessness was significantly increased during ensuing ‘loaded’ breathing in run 2 (P < 0.01) compared with the exercise test in which the inspiratory load had already been experienced in run 1. 7. Changes in the pattern of breathing (inspiratory time, expiratory time, total breath duration, inspiration time/total breath duration ratio and tidal volume) were not consistent with the changes in breathlessness. 8. We suggest that perception of breathlessness may be influenced by a subject's immediate prior experience of an altered relationship between breathlessness and ventilation.

Pulmonary gas exchange in humans exercising at sea level and simulated altitude

1986 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 260-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Wagner ◽  
G. E. Gale ◽  
R. E. Moon ◽  
J. R. Torre-Bueno ◽  
B. W. Stolp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Pressure ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Random Order ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Simulated Altitude ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

In a previous study of normal subjects exercising at sea level and simulated altitude, ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) inequality and alveolar-end-capillary O2 diffusion limitation (DIFF) were found to increase on exercise at altitude, but at sea level the changes did not reach statistical significance. This paper reports additional measurements of VA/Q inequality and DIFF (at sea level and altitude) and also of pulmonary arterial pressure. This was to examine the hypothesis that VA/Q inequality is related to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. In a hypobaric chamber, eight normal subjects were exposed to barometric pressures of 752, 523, and 429 Torr (sea level, 10,000 ft, and 15,000 ft) in random order. At each altitude, inert and respiratory gas exchange and hemodynamic variables were studied at rest and during several levels of steady-state bicycle exercise. Multiple inert gas data from the previous and current studies were combined (after demonstrating no statistical difference between them) and showed increasing VA/Q inequality with sea level exercise (P = 0.02). Breathing 100% O2 did not reverse this increase. When O2 consumption exceeded about 2.7 1/min, evidence for DIFF at sea level was present (P = 0.01). VA/Q inequality and DIFF increased with exercise at altitude as found previously and was reversed by 100% O2 breathing. Indexes of VA/Q dispersion correlated well with mean pulmonary arterial pressure and also with minute ventilation. This study confirms the development of both VA/Q mismatch and DIFF in normal subjects during heavy exercise at sea level. However, the mechanism of increased VA/Q mismatch on exercise remains unclear due to the correlation with both ventilatory and circulatory variables and will require further study.

Pulmonary gas exchange in humans during exercise at sea level

1986 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1590-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Hammond ◽  
G. E. Gale ◽  
K. S. Kapitan ◽  
A. Ries ◽  
P. D. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Inert Gas ◽  
Diffusion Limitation ◽  
O2 Uptake ◽  
Heavy Exercise ◽  
Blood Temperature ◽  
O2 Diffusion

Previous studies have shown both worsening ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) relationships and the development of diffusion limitation during exercise at simulated altitude and suggested that similar changes could occur even at sea level. We used the multiple-inert gas-elimination technique to further study gas exchange during exercise in healthy subjects at sea level. Mixed expired and arterial respiratory and inert gas tensions, cardiac output, heart rate, minute ventilation, respiratory rate, and blood temperature were recorded at rest and during steady-state exercise in the following order: rest, minimal exercise (75 W), heavy exercise (300 W), heavy exercise breathing 100% O2, repeat rest, moderate exercise (225 W), and light exercise (150 W). Alveolar-to-arterial O2 tension difference increased linearly with O2 uptake (VO2) (6.1 Torr X min-1 X 1(-1) VO2). This could be fully explained by measured VA/Q inequality at mean VO2 less than 2.5 l X min-1. At higher VO2, the increase in alveolar-to-arterial O2 tension difference could not be explained by VA/Q inequality alone, suggesting the development of diffusion limitation. VA/Q inequality increased significantly during exercise (mean log SD of perfusion increased from 0.28 +/- 0.13 at rest to 0.58 +/- 0.30 at VO2 = 4.0 l X min-1, P less than 0.01). This increase was not reversed by 100% O2 breathing and appeared to persist at least transiently following exercise. These results confirm and extend the earlier suggestions (8, 21) of increasing VA/Q inequality and O2 diffusion limitation during heavy exercise at sea level in normal subjects and demonstrate that these changes are independent of the order of performance of exercise.

scholarly journals Impact of cervical spinal cord contusion on the breathing pattern across the sleep-wake cycle in the rat

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun-Ze Lee
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Frequency ◽  
Breathing Patterns ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Contusion ◽  
Cervical Spinal Injury

The present study was designed to investigate breathing patterns across the sleep-wake state following a high cervical spinal injury in rats. The breathing patterns (e.g., respiratory frequency, tidal volume, and minute ventilation), neck electromyogram, and electroencephalography of unanesthetized adult male rats were measured at the acute (i.e., 1 day), subchronic (i.e., 2 wk), and/or chronic (i.e., 6 wk) injured stages after unilateral contusion of the second cervical spinal cord. Cervical spinal cord injury caused a long-term reduction in the tidal volume but did not influence the sleep-wake cycle duration. The minute ventilation during sleep was usually lower than that during the wake period in uninjured animals due to a decrease in respiratory frequency. However, this sleep-induced reduction in respiratory frequency was not observed in contused animals at the acute injured stage. By contrast, the tidal volume was significantly lower during sleep in contused animals but not uninjured animals from the acute to the chronic injured stage. Moreover, the frequency of sigh and postsigh apnea was elevated in acutely contused animals. These results indicated that high cervical spinal contusion is associated with exacerbated sleep-induced attenuation of the tidal volume and higher occurrence of sleep apnea, which may be detrimental to respiratory functional recovery after cervical spinal cord injury. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cervical spinal injury is usually associated with sleep-disordered breathing. The present study investigated breathing patterns across sleep-wake state following cervical spinal injury in the rat. Unilateral cervical spinal contusion significantly impacted sleep-induced alteration of breathing patterns, showing a blunted frequency response and exacerbated attenuated tidal volume and occurrence of sleep apnea. The result enables us to investigate effects of cervical spinal injury on the pathogenesis of sleep-disordered breathing and evaluate potential therapies to improve respiration.

Relationship between Cr and breathing pattern in mechanically ventilated patients

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 2703-2708 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Burnet ◽  
M. Bascou-Bussac ◽  
C. Martin ◽  
Y. Jammes
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Breathing Pattern ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Frequency ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated Patients ◽  
Ventilated Patients

In mechanically ventilated patients the natural gas-conditioning process of the upper airways is bypassed by the use of an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy. We hypothesized that under these conditions the breathing pattern may greatly influence the convective respiratory heat loss (Cr). Cr values were computed from minute ventilation (VE) and inspiratory and expiratory gas temperatures, which were measured in six patients under mechanical ventilation for the management of cranial trauma. In each patient the effects of 11–20 different breathing patterns were investigated. Relationships between Cr and VE and between combined tidal volume and respiratory frequency were obtained by simple and multiple linear regression methods, respectively. Comparison of the standard errors of estimate indicated that multiple linear regression gives the best fit. Thus, Cr was highly dependent on the breathing pattern and was not related only to VE. For the same VE value, Cr was higher when VE was achieved with high tidal volume and low respiratory frequency. These data are consistent with previous studies in which thermal exchanges through the upper airways were taxed by hyperventilation of frigid air.

Effects of separate rib cage and abdominal restriction on exercise performance in normal humans

1985 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 2020-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Hussain ◽  
B. Rabinovitch ◽  
P. T. Macklem ◽  
R. L. Pardy
Keyword(s):  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Cycle Ergometer ◽  
Abdominal Muscle ◽  
Work Rate ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Transdiaphragmatic Pressure ◽  
Rib Cage ◽  
Constant Work Rate ◽  
And Control

We assessed the effects of selective restriction of movements of the rib cage (Res,rc) and abdomen (Res,ab) on ventilatory pattern, transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), and electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) in five normal subjects exercising at a constant work rate (80% of maximum power output) on a cycle ergometer till exhaustion. Restriction of movements was achieved by an inelastic corset applied tightly around the rib cage or abdomen. Edi was recorded by an esophageal electrode, rectified, and then integrated, and peak values during inspiration were measured. Each subject exercised at the same work rate on 3 days: with Res,rc, with Res,ab, and without restriction (control). Res,rc but not Res,ab reduced exercise time (tlim). Up to tlim, minute ventilation (VE) was similar in all three conditions. At any level of VE, however, Res,rc decreased tidal volume and inspiratory and expiratory time, whereas Res,ab had no effect on the pattern of breathing. Res,ab was associated with higher inspiratory Pdi swings at any level of VE, whereas peak Edi was similar to control. Inspiratory Pdi swings were the same with Res,rc as control, but the peak Edi for a given Pdi was greater with Res,rc (P less than 0.05). During Res,rc the abdominal pressure swings in expiration were greater than with Res,ab and control. We conclude that Res,rc altered the pattern of breathing in normal subjects in high-intensity exercise, decreased diaphragmatic contractility, increased abdominal muscle recruitment in expiration, and reduced tlim. On the other hand, Res,ab had no effect on breathing pattern or tlim but was associated with increased diaphragmatic contractility.

Effect of body posture on lung volumes

1961 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Moreno ◽  
Harold A. Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Prone Position ◽  
Supine Position ◽  
Total Lung Capacity ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Body Posture ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Lung Capacity ◽  
Residual Capacity

The changes produced by body posture on total lung capacity and its subdivisions have been reported for all positions except the prone position. Twenty normal subjects, twelve males and eight females, had determinations of total lung capacity in the three body positions, sitting, supine and prone. Tidal volume, minute ventilation and O2 consumption were also measured. The changes found on assumption of the supine position from the sitting position were similar to those previously reported. For the prone position, a smaller inspiratory capacity and a larger expiratory reserve volume were found. The mean values were changed, respectively, –8% and +37%. Associated with these changes was a significant increase of the functional residual capacity by 636 ml. Ventilation did not change significantly from that found during sitting, unlike the findings associated with the supine position, in which position the tidal volume was decreased. Respiratory frequency remained the same for all positions. Submitted on April 5, 1960

Phonospirometry for noninvasive measurement of ventilation: methodology and preliminary results

2002 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1515-1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Li Que ◽  
Christof Kolmaga ◽  
Louis-Gilles Durand ◽  
Suzanne M. Kelly ◽  
Peter T. Macklem
Keyword(s):  
Airway Obstruction ◽  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Frequency ◽  
Flow Volume ◽  
Quiet Breathing ◽  
Neck Extension ◽  
Volume Relationship ◽  
Tracheal Sounds ◽  
Nose Clip

We measured tracheal flow from tracheal sounds to estimate tidal volume, minute ventilation (V˙i), respiratory frequency, mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti), and duty cycle (Ti/Ttot). In 11 normal subjects, 3 patients with unstable airway obstruction, and 3 stable asthmatic patients, we measured tracheal sounds and flow twice: first to derive flow-sound relationships and second to obtain flow-volume relationships from the sound signal. The flow-volume relationship was compared with pneumotach-derived volume. When subjects were seated, facing forward and with neck rotation, flexion, and standing, flow-volume relationship was within 15% of pneumotach-derived volume. Error increased with neck extension and while supine. We then measured ventilation without mouthpiece or nose clip from tracheal sounds during quiet breathing for up to 30 min. Normal results ± SD revealed tidal volume = 0.37 ± 0.065 liter, respiratory frequency = 19.3 ± 3.5 breaths/min, V˙i = 6.9 ± 1.2 l/min, Vt/Ti = 0.31 ± 0.06 l/s, and Ti/Ttot = 0.37 ± 0.04. Unstable airway obstruction had large V˙i due to increased Vt/Ti. With the exception of Ti/Ttot, variations in ventilatory parameters were closer to log normal than normal distributions and tended to be greater in patients. We conclude that phonospirometry measures ventilation reasonably accurately without mouthpiece, nose clip, or rigid postural constraints.

Mechanical efficiency of breathing

1960 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Milic-Emili ◽  
J. M. Petit
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Tidal Volume ◽  
Dead Space ◽  
Energy Cost ◽  
Respiratory Muscles ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Mechanical Efficiency ◽  
Mechanical Work ◽  
Closed Circuit ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements

Simultaneous measurements of mechanical work and energy cost of breathing were performed on four normal subjects with ventilation increased by adding dead space. Mechanical work was obtained from simultaneous records of endoesophageal pressure and tidal volume. The associated energy cost was estimated by measuring oxygen consumption of respiratory muscles by means of a closed-circuit spirometer. In all subjects studied and over the range of ventilations involved (ca. 30–110 l/min.), the mechanical efficiency of breathing was found to be in the order of 0.19–0.25. Submitted on July 6, 1959

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