André Zenske1, Andreas Koch2, Wataru Kähler2, Kerstin Oellrich2, Clark Pepper3, Thomas Muth4, Jochen D Schipke5,6. 1. Klinikum St. Elisabeth, Straubing, Germany. 2. German Naval Medical Institute, Maritime Medicine, Kiel, Germany. 3. Johanna Etienne Hospital, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, Neuss, Germany. 4. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 5. Forschungsgruppe Experimentelle Chirurgie, Universitäts-Klinikum, Düsseldorf, Germany. 6. Corresponding author: Professor Jochen D Schipke, c/o Forschungsgruppe Experimentelle Chirurgie, Universitäts-Klinikum Düsseldorf, DE, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, j.schipke@gmx.org.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Scuba diving likely has an impact on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In the course of conducting trials of underwater ECG recording for measurement of heart rate variability, there was an unexpected stressful event; one participant's regulator iced and began to free-flow. METHODS: A custom-made, water- and pressure-tight aluminum housing was used to protect a portable Holter monitor. ECGs were recorded in three experienced divers who witnessed an unplanned moderately stressful incident during diving. The ECG signals were analysed for measures of heart rate variability (HRV). RESULTS: Analysis for different short-term HRV measures provided consistent results if periods of interest were appropriately time-aligned. There was improvement in sympatho-vagal balance. One diver unexpectedly exhibited an increase in both sympathetic and vagal activity shortly after the incident. CONCLUSIONS: A conventional open-water dive affected the ANS of experienced recreational divers as measured by HRV which provides a global evaluation of the ANS and alterations in its two branches. The heart rate variability data gathered from several participating divers around the time of this event illustrate the potential utility of this variable in quantifying stress during diving. HRV data may be useful in addressing relevant diving related questions such as effects of cold, exercise or different breathing gases on ANS function. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION: Scuba diving likely has an impact on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In the course of conducting trials of underwater ECG recording for measurement of heart rate variability, there was an unexpected stressful event; one participant's regulator iced and began to free-flow. METHODS: A custom-made, water- and pressure-tight aluminum housing was used to protect a portable Holter monitor. ECGs were recorded in three experienced divers who witnessed an unplanned moderately stressful incident during diving. The ECG signals were analysed for measures of heart rate variability (HRV). RESULTS: Analysis for different short-term HRV measures provided consistent results if periods of interest were appropriately time-aligned. There was improvement in sympatho-vagal balance. One diver unexpectedly exhibited an increase in both sympathetic and vagal activity shortly after the incident. CONCLUSIONS: A conventional open-water dive affected the ANS of experienced recreational divers as measured by HRV which provides a global evaluation of the ANS and alterations in its two branches. The heart rate variability data gathered from several participating divers around the time of this event illustrate the potential utility of this variable in quantifying stress during diving. HRV data may be useful in addressing relevant diving related questions such as effects of cold, exercise or different breathing gases on ANS function. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
Authors: Eduardo Miranda Dantas; Andrew Haddon Kemp; Rodrigo Varejão Andreão; Valdo José Dias da Silva; André Russowsky Brunoni; Rosangela Akemi Hoshi; Isabela Martins Bensenor; Paulo Andrade Lotufo; Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro; José Geraldo Mill Journal: Psychophysiology Date: 2018-01-02 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: Marten E van den Berg; Peter R Rijnbeek; Maartje N Niemeijer; Albert Hofman; Gerard van Herpen; Michiel L Bots; Hans Hillege; Cees A Swenne; Mark Eijgelsheim; Bruno H Stricker; Jan A Kors Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2018-04-27 Impact factor: 4.566