1999/03/01 by Dirk S. Fokkema · 1 citation
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Anesthesia #Apnea #Autonomic nervous system #Blood pressure #Breathing #Cardiology #Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control #Heart rate #Hyperventilation #Internal medicine #Medicine #Neuroscience #Neuroscience of respiration and sleep #Psychology #Respiratory and Cough-Related Research #Respiratory system #Vagal tone
paper · doi:10.1111/1469-8986.3620164
openalex publication_date 1999/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Strained breathing is a natural respiratory pattern, with cardiovascular implications. It is associated with social factors, attention, expectation, and anxiety and with defense behavior in animals. An inhibition of active behavior is characteristic. Strained breathing is based on the functional heterogeneity of the medullary postinspiratory neurons. In stressful circumstances, muscle tension and laryngeal reflexes induce a strong reduction of airflow in the glottis, resulting in a prolonged Stage I of expiration and an elevated intrathoracic pressure. The resulting elevations of blood pressure and CO2 level further stimulate the strained breathing pattern. The straining factor intrathoracic pressure is an important psychophysiological parameter. Functional aspects of strained breathing may be an elevated brain perfusion and the prevention of hyperventilation. It induces blood pressure oscillations and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Frequent strained breathing may contribute to cardiovascular pathology and sleep apnea, creating a link between functional behavior and disease.