Vital Sign Accuracy May depending on Body Position, Research Suggers

Body position can affect the accuracy of vital sign measurements that indication stiffness – the risk factor for heart sheart –according to new research. Sitting down during certain tests may cause Spike in Arterial Stiffness Readings That Does Not Reflection to True Increase.

The Study is published In the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology and Has Been Chosen As An Apselect Article for February.

Arterial Stiffness is When the Walls of the Blood Vessels are not as Elastic or Stretchy As They Should Be. The Condition is Often A part of Aging and Can Also Occur In People Who have Diabetes, High Cholesterol or High Blood Pressure. People with Stiffer Arteries have an Increased Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke and Other Forms of Heart Disease.

Medical Professionals Most Commonly Measure Markers of Arterial Stiffness With Patients Lying on Their Back. However, Sitting May Be a More Practical Option for People with Chronic Back Pain or Other Health Concerns.

In this Study, Researchers Explored Whether Measuring Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity-The Time It Takes for the Pulse to Travel from the Carotid to the Femoral Artery-Can Be Considered Reliable When Measred in a Seated Position. Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (CFPWV) is Consreded the “Gold Standard” for Measuring Arterial Stiffness.

The Research Team Assessed A Small Group of Young, Healthy Volunteers in Both Supine and Seated Positions on the Same Day. The Researchers Measred Heart Rate and Blood Pressure as well as cfpwv and took measurements Three Times in each position. They also Analyzed the Difference in Arterial Stiffness Markers After the Change From One Position to the Other.

Blood Pressure, Arterial Pressure and Heart Rate Were Generally Higher When Participants Were Sitting Compred to Lying Down. The Researchers Found Cfpwv to Be Much Higher When Seated As Well. However, When Looking at Blood Flow and Blood Pressure Beteeen The Two Postures and Adjustting The Calculations To Account for Changes In Hydrostatic Pressure (Pressure Created Due To Gravity), The Readings Were Much More Comparable.

In addition, these findings suggest the activation of the sympathetic nervids System that occurs While sitting is not strong enaugh to cause larGE Increases in arterial stiffness.

This Study May Have Important Implications for Diagnosis of Arterial Stiffness and, In Turn, The Risk of Heart Disease.

“It is crucial to Carefully Consider the Subject’s Posture During (Pulse Wave Velocity) Measurements to Accurately Assess Arterial Stiffness,” The Researchers Wrote. “For Patients Who Find It Challenging to Maintain A Fully Supine Posture… Values ​​Obtained in the Seated Position Can Be Approprialy Adjustiated for (Hydrostatic and Transmural Pressure).”