AUTONOMIC FUNCTION ANALYSIS

‘Autonomic function is the visceral nervous system function that regulates involuntary action, of the intestines, smooth muscle, heart, and glands, and that is divided into two physiologically and anatomically distinct, mutually antagonistic systems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system’.

“Heart Rate Variability HRV refers to dynamic rhythmical variations in heart rate that reflects the quality of cardiovascular autonomic function”.

SIGNIFICANCE

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a measure of the naturally occurring beat-to-beat changes in heart rate. The analysis of HRV, or heart rhythms, is a powerful, noninvasive measure of neuro-cardiac function that reflects heart–brain interactions and autonomic nervous system dynamics.

The Autonomic nervous system is extensive and is involved in the function of every organ system. Clinical manifestations of autonomic dysfunction are involved virtually in all diseases. The structural pathologic process affecting brain whether infectious, degenerative, neoplastic or inherited may result in autonomic syndrome.

The main usefulness is in:

*   Monitoring current state of health of the patient;

*   Verifying the efficacy of current treatment protocol and intervention;

*   Examining for CAN and DAN - Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and Diabetes Autonomic Neuropathy;

*   Measuring the Sympathetic Nervous System’s predominance in cases such as Metabolic Syndrome, Hypertension or Heart Failure;

*   Screening for unfavorable situations in the absence of clinically apparent health situations;

*   Exploring palpitations, Pain management, Sleep apnea;

*   Anxiety, Stress, Psychological conditions;

*   Asthma, COPD;

*   Neurological conditions;

*   For reliable general population screening

Higher variations in the heart rate, leads to greater heart rate variability that implies healthy individual with well balanced autonomic function – sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems;

On the contrary, steadier heart rate, leads to lower heart rate variability- imbalance in the autonomic function and implies presence of physiological malfunction.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Reduction in HRV leads to adverse prognostic implications in cardiovascular, neurological and other metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity etc;

Short term HRV analysis can identify patients at high risk of premature death in cardiac risk stratification;

HRV test procedures acts as a supplemental monitoring and optimization for detection of early signs of adverse effects of any medications;

In general population studies, a deterioration of HRV patterns can be a useful indicator of endangered health situation related to adverse events.

Physical and pharmaceutical interventions for increasing HRV leads to better individual prognosis;

MEASUREMENTS

HRV – Pulse wave by finger pulse probe and ECG using electrodes placed on the chest, or on hands

Dantest monitoring program has been developed according to the standards and mathematical procedures for short-term HRV Autonomic nervous system analysis as well as for performing and evaluating pulse flow and autonomic challenge tests. The resulting analysis assess the stress and fitness conditions as well.

Dantest - AFA Analysis – fifteen minute procedure – Resting Baseline HRV also recording pulse wave and ECG signals, Regulated Breathing, Valsalva maneuver, Standing – Standing and Sitting repetitions, enables HRV data collection for analysis and reporting. The procedure do not result in any risk or discomfort for patients. The monitoring is non-invasive, very simple and painless. The reports have numerical and graphical data and resulting assessments.