• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.95-98
• /
• 2021

By far, studies on the effect of oral administration of peppermint essential oil on blood pressure are not consistent, increasing or decreasing. And the effect of inhalation of peppermint essential oil on blood pressure was not reported. This study was designed to clarify the effect of peppermint essential oil inhalation on the blood pressure and autonomic nervous system. Blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity were measured. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not changed significantly by inhalation of peppermint essential oil. Standard deviation of normal to normal (SDNN), a parameter of total activity of autonomic nervous system also was not changed significantly. High frequency (HF) power level, an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activity was not changed by peppermint. These results indicate that action mechanism of peppermint essential oil on blood pressure is different by the method of administration, oral or inhalation.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.117-120
• /
• 2021

Tetanus is an infectious disease of the nervous system caused by Clostridium tetani, and is characterized by tonic muscle contractions, painful spasms, and autonomic dysfunction. Severe autonomic dysfunction associated with tetanus can be life-threatening. We present a 62-year-old female who experienced lockjaw after an ankle fracture. The patient was diagnosed with tetanus and received tetanus immunoglobulin and a vaccination. The patient subsequently experienced labile hypertension. This case highlights the challenge and importance of managing cardiovascular instability.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Acupuncture restores the flow of vital energy in the body by stimulating the organ-specific meridians and enhances cardiac vagal activity and suppresses sympathetic activity. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the acupuncture studies on autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods : We conducted a PubMed search to obtain a fair sample of acupuncture studies related ANS published in English in 2007. Each article was reviewed for study objectives and outcomes, as well as acupuncture points, experimental and control interventions. Results : We reviewed a total of 15 studies published from 1997 to 2007. In normal states, acupuncture enhanced either vagal or sympathetic tone depending on the stimulated acupuncture point sites. On the other hand, most of studies demonstrated that acupuncture restored the autonomic dysfunctions in various kinds of stressful states. Conclusions : We reviewed studies that contributed to an understanding of the autonomic mechanisms of acupuncture with the hope that this review will be of benefit to the future studies. Although the relationship between acupuncture and ANS response is still uncertain, acupuncture would be a noteworthy modality for modulating autonomic dysfunction.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.127-140
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Acupuncture has been shown to relieve pain and modulate biological function by stimulating the organ-specific meridians and enhances parasympathetic activity and suppresses sympathetic activity. The aim of this review is to summarize and understand the effects of acupuncture on autonomic nervous system. Methods: We reviewed a total of 29 studies published from 2000 to 2010 searched by PueMed and various domestic oriental medicine journals to obtain acupuncture studies related with ANS. Each article was classified by ANS measurement index and reviewed for study objectives, outcomes, acupuncture points, experimental and control interventions. Results: In the study of acupuncture about EEG, HRV, SCR, the experiment results are not the same by acupoints. Although same acupoint the results differ by subject's condition. But the study showed some clear tendency. In brief, in normal states acupuncture enhanced either vagal or sympathetic tone depending on the stimulated acupuncture point sites. On the other hand, most of studies demonstrated that acupuncture restored the autonomic dysfunctions in various kinds of tired or stressful states. Conclusions: We reviewed studies that contributed to an understanding of the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture on autonomic nervous system. Although the relationship between acupuncture and ANS response is still uncertain, acupuncture could be a excellent treatment method for modulating autonomic dysfunction.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.206-215
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to provide basic data to enhance self-nursing ability by investigating the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and self-management activities in patients with diabetes accompanying hypertension. Methods: Subjects were 113 type-2 diabetic patients who were diagnosed as hypertensive in two primary medical institutions and taking anti-hypertensive treatments. The existence of postural hypotension was evaluated by blood pressure and pulse rate, and the subjective symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and self-management activities were checked by structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and analysis of covariance. Results: Postural hypotension occurred in 4.4% of the subjects. Urinary frequency and dizziness during postural changes were the most frequent symptoms of autonomic neuropathy, and 57.5% of the subjects complained of symptoms in two or more domains. The group with autonomic neuropathy symptoms showed higher age, higher living stress, and fewer self-management activities in the diet and foot management domains as compared to the group without autonomic neuropathy symptoms. Conclusion: From these results, we learned that strengthening education on self-management for diet and foot management and customized interventions considering age and living stress are required through early identification of the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes accompanying hypertension.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the physical therapy treatment room environment using microwave diathermy on the autonomic nervous system of human body. METHODS: Participants were 24 healthy adults. Standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences(RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF), LF/HF ratio were compared in microwave irradiation and non-irradiation group. Data were analyzed in Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF), LF/HF ratio were not significantly different in microwave irradiation group. Standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF), LF/HF ratio were not significantly different in microwave non-irradiation group. Standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF), LF/HF ratio were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: There was no significant change in the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system regardless of the presence of microwave irradiation. There was no significant change in the autonomic nervous system adaptability regardless of the presence of microwave irradiation.According to this study, microwave diathermy does not have significant effect on the autonomic nervous system.Future study is necessary to investigate the long term effect of the physical therapy treatment room environment using microwave diathermy on the autonomic nervous system of the human body.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.96-100
• /
• 2019

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is common, although not so well-known variant of cardiovascular autonomic disorder characterized by an excessive heart rate increase on standing. POTS is probably underdiagnosed due to the heterogeneity in both presentation and etiology. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and autonomic features in patients with POTS. We reviewed the medical records of patients with POTS. Medical records include onset age, sex, presenting symptoms, body mass index (BMI) and prognosis. All patients had an autonomic function and laboratory tests. Ninety-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for POTS (51.5% male; mean±SD age, 20.0±9.7 years; mean±SD, BMI 21.9±3.9). Common presenting symptoms were a brief loss of consciousness, dizziness, blurred vision and headache. Autonomic function tests showed abnormal quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing in 20 patients of 99 POTS patients. The abnormal post-ganglionic sympathetic sudomotor function is generally considered to reflect a neuropathic form of POTS. In treatments, 83 patients were treated by non-pharmacological management including lifestyle changes and 16 patients required the initiation of pharmacological therapies. Most patients with POTS showed a relatively favorable prognosis. POTS is a chronic disease with a substantial subset of patients recovering within a few years after the initial presentation. Future efforts should focus on better understanding of POTS pathophysiology and designing randomized controlled trials for the selection of more effective therapy.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of 12-week Tai Chi exercise on the autonomic nervous system activity and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: A single group pre-posttest was used. Subjects were 16 participants aged 51~71 years with metabolic syndrome. All of the subjects were met the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). The Tai Chi exercise consisted of 19 movements from Yang and Sun styles provided twice a week for 3 months. Metabolic syndrome risk factors including waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) were measured. A heart rate variability device was used to measure the activity of autonomic nervous system. Results: After 12-week Tai Chi exercise, systolic pressure, waist circumference, and HDL-cholesterol improved significantly. Tai Chi exercise had no effect on the autonomic nervous system activity. Conclusion: The 12-week Tai Chi exercise was partially effective in managing risk factors of metabolic syndrome. A larger study with longer period to improve the autonomic nervous system activity in patients with metabolic syndrome is needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.585-590
• /
• 2003

Purpose : This study is designed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and its relationship to risk factors in adolescents with diabetes mellitus(DM). Methods : Ninety-two diabetic patients(80 with type 1 DM and 12 with type 2 DM), ranging from eight to 26 years of age, were studied for cardiovascular autonomic function, and the relationship to age, duration of diabetes, glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urinary albumin excretion, and the presence of diabetic retinopathy and abnormal nerve conduction velocities(NCV) were analysed. Autonomic function was assessed by measuring heart rate variation during valsalva manoeuvre, deep breathing and standing from a lying position(30 : 15 ratio), and postural hypotension. Results : Among patients with type 1 DM, 22.5% had early, 8.7% had definite, and 1.3% had severe autonomic dysfunction, and among patients with type 2 DM, 16.7% had early, 8.3% had definite, and 8.3% had severe autonomic dysfunction. On logistic regression analysis including both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, the age of the patient(OR=1.133(1.003-1.279), P<0.05) and duration of diabetes(OR=1.148(1.009-1.307), P<0.05) significantly predicted cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction while HbA1c, blood pressure, urinary albumin excretion, and presence of diabetic retinopathy and abnormal NCV did not. The valsalva ratio was borderline or abnormal in 31.5% of patients, the heart rate variation on deep breathing in 41.3%, the 30 : 15 ratio in 14.1%, and postural hypotension in 9.8% of patients. The valsalva ratio and the heart rate variation on deep breathing significantly predicted cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, but the 30 : 15 ratio and postural hypotension did not. Conclusion : Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction was found in 32.6% of diabetic patients and 10.8 % of patients had definite or severe involvement. The risk of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction increased with the patient's age and the duration of DM. This study suggests that the valsalva ratio and the heart rate variation on deep breathing are the most useful tests in evaluating the cardiovascular autonomic function in children and adolescents with DM.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.317-326
• /
• 1999

Background: Neural control of airway function is through parasympathetic, sympathetic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic mechanisms. The autonomic nervous system controls the airway smooth muscle tone, mucociliary system, permeability and blood flow in the bronchial circulation and release of mediators from the mast cells and other inflammatory cells. The cardiovascular and respiratory autonomic efferent fibers have a common central origin, so altered cardiovascular autonomic reflexes could reflect the altered respiratory autonomic status. Therefore, we performed this study to assess the autonomic abnormality and determine the correlating factors of severity of autonomic neuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) using easily reproducible cardiovascular autonomic reflex function test. Method: The study included 20 patients with COPD and 20 healthy persons obtained on Health Promotion Center in Yeungnam university hospital. All the patients had history and clinical features of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society. Any patients with myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrythmia, hypertension, central or peripheral nervous system disease, diabetes mellitus, or any other diseases known to produce autonomic neuropathy, has excluded. The autonomic nervous system function tests included three tests evaluating the parasympathetic system and two tests evaluating the sympathetic system. And also all subjects were subjected to pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis. Results: Autonomic dysfunction was more commonly associated with patients with COPD than healthy person The parasympathetic dysfunction was frequent in patient with COPD, but sympathetic dysfunction seemed preserved. The severity of parasympathetic dysfunction in patients with COPD was correlated with the degree of duration of disease, smoking, reductions in the value of $FEV_1$ and FVC, and arterial hypoxemia but no such correlation existed for age, type of COPD, $FEV_1$/FVC, or $PaCO_s$. Conclusion: There is high frequency of parasympathetic dysfunction associated with COPD and the parasympathetic abnormality in COPD is increased in proportion to severity of airway disease. In COPD, parasympathetic dysfunction probably does not the cause of disease, but it may be an effect of disease progression.