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ROLE OF THE FACE IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO TOTAL IMMERSION
Author(s) -
Cooden BA,
Lehman RC,
Pym J
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1970.66
Subject(s) - bradycardia , immersion (mathematics) , medicine , heart rate , blood flow , face masks , anesthesia , cardiology , blood pressure , mathematics , covid-19 , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pure mathematics
Summary Eleven of nineteen young adults development bradycardia and reduced forearm blood flow within 30 seconds of breath‐holding with total body immersion and were classified as strong responders. Analysis of data from these strong responders showed that, when the face was lifted from the water after 30 seconds’ total immersion, the development of the diving response ceased, and both heart rate and blood flow returned towards resting levels even though the breath was still held. Conversely, total immersion after 30 seconds of breath‐ holding with the face in air produced bradycardia of rapid onset and decreased blood flow. Wearing a face mask and swimming cap prevented the development of the usual diving response.