Document Detail


Chemical and mechanical adaptations of the respiratory system at rest and during exercise in human pregnancy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18059602     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Human pregnancy is characterized by significant increases in ventilatory drive both at rest and during exercise. The increased ventilation and attendant hypocapnia of pregnancy has been attributed primarily to the stimulatory effects of female sex hormones (progesterone and estrogen) on central and peripheral chemoreflex drives to breathe. However, recent research from our laboratory suggests that hormone-mediated increases in neural (or non-chemoreflex) drives to breathe may contribute importantly to the hyperventilation of pregnancy. This review challenges traditional views of ventilatory control, and outlines an alternative hypothesis of the control of breathing during human pregnancy that is currently being tested in our laboratory. Conventional wisdom suggests that pregnancy-induced increases in central respiratory motor output command in combination with progressive thoraco-abdominal distortion may compromise the normal mechanical response of the respiratory system to exercise, increase the perception of exertional breathlessness, and curtail aerobic exercise performance in otherwise healthy pregnant women. The majority of available evidence suggests, however, that neither pregnancy nor advancing gestation are associated with reduced aerobic working capacity or increased breathlessness at any given work rate or ventilation during exhaustive weight-supported exercise.
Authors:
Dennis Jensen; Katherine A Webb; Denis E O'Donnell
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquée, nutrition et métabolisme     Volume:  32     ISSN:  1715-5312     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2007 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-12-06     Completed Date:  2008-03-11     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101264333     Medline TA:  Appl Physiol Nutr Metab     Country:  Canada    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1239-50     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Physical Education Center, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6. 0dj@queensu.ca
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
Adult
Biomechanics
Estrogens / physiology
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise Tolerance
Female
Humans
Lung Volume Measurements
Pregnancy / metabolism*,  physiology*
Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / physiology
Respiratory Mechanics
Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
Rest / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Estrogens

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Ventilatory constraints and dyspnea during exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Next Document:  Effects of ageing on muscle O2 utilization and muscle oxygenation during the transition to moderate-...