Open AccessReaction to Cold of Patients with Coronary Insufficiency
Author(s) -
Christer Backman,
StigOlof Holm,
Håkan Linderholm
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
upsala journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 2000-1967
pISSN - 0300-9734
DOI - 10.3109/03009737909179154
Subject(s) - medicine , supine position , sitting , heart rate , cardiology , angina , blood pressure , exertion , rating of perceived exertion , diastole , body position , myocardial infarction , physical medicine and rehabilitation , pathology
Twenty six patients with angina pectoris and coronary insufficiency as judged by an exercise ECG test were examined. About half of the patients had more pronounced ECG changes in a cold room at -15 degrees C than at room temperature. They worked less, their subjective rating of exertion during exercise was higher and the heart performed less work, expressed as the heart rate blood pressure product. The other half of the patients was not much influenced by cold. During an exercise test in the supine position almost all patients got more pronounced ECG changes, worked less and the heart performed less work than in the sitting position. It is suggested that cold exposure as well as a supine body position may to a considerable part exert their effect, i.e. lower the anginal threshold and increase ECG changes, by increasing the central blood volume and the diastolic volume of the left heart and thus ceteres paribus the myocardial oxygen consumption.