BACKGROUND: Spontaneous sighs are thought to play an important role in preventing atelectasis and in regulating airway tone. Recent studies have provided a mechanism by which expansion of the lungs could cause relaxation of smooth muscle. OBJECTIVE: To investigate breathing patterns during 2 forms of sedentary behavior: reading and watching television. METHODS: Breathing patterns were monitored for 1 to 2 hours to document respiratory rates and sigh rates. Each participant was monitored while reading and while watching a movie on videotape. During the first experiment (17 controls), metabolic rates were also measured. In the second experiment (18 controls and 9 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma), only breathing patterns were monitored. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in respiratory or metabolic rates between the 2 activities. In contrast, in the first experiment, 13 of 17 controls had lower sigh rates while watching a videotape than while reading (P < .01). In the second experiment, the sigh rate was significantly lower overall while watching a videotape (mean, 13.7 sighs per hour; range, 1.8-26.0 sighs per hour) than while reading (mean, 19.3 sighs per hour; range, 7.7-30.0 sighs per hour) (P < .001). A similar decrease was observed in patients with asthma (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Given that many children and adults watch television for 5 or more hours per day, breathing patterns during this time may be relevant to lung function. Our results demonstrate that prolonged periods of watching a videotape are associated with lower sigh rates than while reading. Further research is needed to determine whether these changes are relevant to increased bronchial reactivity.
BACKGROUND: Spontaneous sighs are thought to play an important role in preventing atelectasis and in regulating airway tone. Recent studies have provided a mechanism by which expansion of the lungs could cause relaxation of smooth muscle. OBJECTIVE: To investigate breathing patterns during 2 forms of sedentary behavior: reading and watching television. METHODS: Breathing patterns were monitored for 1 to 2 hours to document respiratory rates and sigh rates. Each participant was monitored while reading and while watching a movie on videotape. During the first experiment (17 controls), metabolic rates were also measured. In the second experiment (18 controls and 9 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma), only breathing patterns were monitored. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in respiratory or metabolic rates between the 2 activities. In contrast, in the first experiment, 13 of 17 controls had lower sigh rates while watching a videotape than while reading (P < .01). In the second experiment, the sigh rate was significantly lower overall while watching a videotape (mean, 13.7 sighs per hour; range, 1.8-26.0 sighs per hour) than while reading (mean, 19.3 sighs per hour; range, 7.7-30.0 sighs per hour) (P < .001). A similar decrease was observed in patients with asthma (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Given that many children and adults watch television for 5 or more hours per day, breathing patterns during this time may be relevant to lung function. Our results demonstrate that prolonged periods of watching a videotape are associated with lower sigh rates than while reading. Further research is needed to determine whether these changes are relevant to increased bronchial reactivity.
Authors: Yun M Shim; Autumn Burnette; Sean Lucas; Richard C Herring; Judith Weltman; James T Patrie; Arthur L Weltman; Thomas A Platts-Mills Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-04-23 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Bruna Gonçalves C da Silva; Ana M B Menezes; Fernando C Wehrmeister; Fernando C Barros; Michael Pratt Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2017-06-23 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Ana M B Menezes; Fernando César Wehrmeister; Ludmila Correa Muniz; Rogelio Perez-Padilla; Ricardo B Noal; Marcelo C Silva; Helen Gonçalves; Pedro C Hallal Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2012-11-10 Impact factor: 5.012