CARDIODYNAMIC AND HAEMODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF THE "RELAXATION RESPONSE" IN ADULT NIGERIANS

Abstract

Experiments were carried out on 120 volunteer, unanaesthetized and intact subjects who were trained to achieve the “Relaxation Response", a behavioral stimulus situation developed as a “transcendent function'' aimed at defusing real and imagined tensions pent-up within the body system as a "general adaptation syndrome'" and defined by its proponents as an equivalent of the "trophotropic - endophylatic" reaction described in cat by Hess (1943). 20 subjects (16.6%) failed to achieve the response.

Measurements were made before, during and after relaxation of the following Parameters: Electroencephalogram (EEG), Impedance Pneumogram (IP) , Transthoracic Electrical Impedance (TEI), Blood Pressure (BP), Heart Rate (HR), Electrocardiogram (ECG),

To ascertain the visceroactive mode of the "Relaxation Response Technique” RRT), the Duration and the Frequency of practice were patterned to bring out the chronic and acute effects of the stimulus situation in order to facilitate the interpretation of the cardiodynamic and the haemodynamic data obtained.

Most hypertensives, for example, are clinically diagnosed as essential, yet a number begin as labile in which the elevated arterial pressure is consequent upon increased cardiac output (Lund-Johason, 1967) and the cardiovascular response pattern resembles that of exercise (Brod, 1963). In contrast, essential hypertension is maintained by increase in peripheral resistance with about normal cardiac output (Eich et al, 1966, Pickering 1968). The former may be neurogenically mediated but its repeated occurence induces a non-neural mechanism (Folkow 1971 and Guyton et al, 1970). Therefore, one must not lose sight of the fact that visceral response patterns associated with certain behavioral maneuverings develop from a long-term (chronic) exposure to a given change in the environment (the technique). In fact, such long-term effects can perhaps be viewed as mere repeated application of short-term (acute) exposures and are thus best approached with well-defined short-term models. This is why the 20-minute time limit imposed by the hybridized Meditational technique (the RRT) is quite appropriate. Not only is it more easily repeated with the least possible side effect, but it also enables one to hypothesize what response patterns are due to neural or to endocrine mediation purely on account of the latency and duration of the responses. So far, the most outstanding claims have been confirmed through the application of RRT. Also the best parameters as indicative of RRT were shown to be EEG and Impedance Pneumogram. New parameters promoting a better understanding of cardiodynamic response patterns were deduced during RRT and the following points were clarified. (l) Stroke Volume changed little in acute RRT application (2) It was reduced significantly (P, 0.05) following chronic application of RRT. ( 3) Blood pressure showed a permanent change (fall) after four sessions of RRT. The fall is the resultant of the reciprocal relationship between cardiac output (fall in acute and chronic) and the total peripheral resistance (increase). (4) Heart rate changed considerably in acute RRT application. Even after much practice, Heart rate reduced to a greater extent than (sv) stroke volume. (5) These physiological responses exhibited a circadian rythm. (6) There was no significant difference between the response of female and male subjects. (7) Age had no effect on the response (8) The iliosacral angle determined how fast and to what extent a response can be elicited. At an angle of 120˚ the subject falls asleep and concentrates less (due to strain) than at an angle of 90° whereas the optimum angle lies between 105° and 120°. (9) The efficiency of the heart during exercise improved with RRT. (10) Pregnant Women quite easily responded to the Relaxation Response Technique. From these findings, it is concluded that the RRT is capable of improving the cardiovascular functions consistently in sedentary as well as in working subject within a week of sincere practices.