| In 1995 the British Heart Journal published a study | | | | * The excited nerve cells in the heart (the cells that |
| (Clark et al, 1995) done by researchers from the | | | | are called pacemakers) interfere with the normal |
| National Heart and Lung Institute in London. The | | | | synchronization and harmony in the working of the |
| breathing rate of all 88 heart patients at rest ranged | | | | heart muscle. (The valves should open and close in |
| from 10 to 18 l/min. This is about 2-3 times more | | | | proper time, much like a well-tuned engine.). |
| than the norm: 6 l/min at rest for a 70-kg man. | | | | Desynchronization can make the whole process of |
| In 2000 a study from the Chest magazine a group of | | | | blood pumping less efficient or more energy- and |
| American cardiac professionals revealed that patients | | | | oxygen-demanding. |
| with chronic heart failure had from 14 to 18 l/min | | | | * Abnormal metabolism of fats leads, as Russian |
| (Johnson et al, 2000). | | | | medical studies revealed, to increased blood |
| More recently, Greek doctors from the Onassis | | | | cholesterol level in some people. That condition |
| Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens recorded ventilation | | | | gradually, over periods of weeks or months, |
| values ranging from 11 to 19 l/min for heart patients | | | | produces cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood |
| from their hospital (Dimopoulou et al, 2001). | | | | vessels in genetically predisposed people. Such |
| Moreover, about a decade ago a group of 10 medical | | | | deposits can induce primary hypertension. As Russian |
| doctors published their findings, regarding breathing of | | | | published studies suggest, the degree of |
| heart patients, in the American Journal of Cardiology. | | | | overbreathing has a linear correlation with the blood |
| These MDs conducted a hyperventilation provocation | | | | cholesterol level. |
| test with over 200 heart patients. Their patients | | | | * Mouth breathing (both at rest and during exercise) |
| were asked to hyperventilate. It was found that all | | | | is an additional adverse stimulus present in most heart |
| patients experienced coronary artery spasms (Nakao | | | | patients. It prevents normal absorption of nitric oxide |
| et al, 1997). The title of their study was | | | | (a hormone and powerful dilator of blood vessels) |
| "Hyperventilation as a specific test for diagnosis of | | | | synthesized in the nasal passages. |
| coronary artery spasm". The cause of the spasm | | | | Which parts of the cardiovascular system are going |
| was too low CO2 values in the blood due to | | | | to be most affected? |
| over-breathing. | | | | That depends on genetic predisposition and |
| How can hyperventilation affect the heart? The main | | | | environmental factors. There are so many factors |
| effects are due to CO2 deficiency. | | | | that can affect the normal work of the |
| * Low blood CO2 values lead to the narrowing of | | | | cardiovascular system. People are different. Some |
| small blood vessels (spasm of arteries and arterioles) | | | | may get chronic heart failure, others high blood |
| in the whole body. That causes two problems. First, | | | | pressure, or stroke, or various abnormalities in the |
| as a group of Japanese medical professionals found, | | | | heart muscle. |
| in conditions of CO2 deficiency, blood flow to the | | | | Therefore, it makes sense to claim that the heart |
| heart muscle decreases (Okazaki et al, 1991). Hence, | | | | disease is the disease of heavy breathers. It exists |
| heart tissue gets less oxygen, glucose and other | | | | only in conditions of chronic hyperventilation. Heart |
| nutrients. Second, since small blood vessels are the | | | | patients breathe too heavy at rest, and even bigger |
| main contributors to the total resistance in relation to | | | | during acute stages. If heart patients slow down and |
| blood flow, CO2 deficiency increases resistance to | | | | normalize their breathing rate, they would not |
| blood flow and makes the work of the heart harder. | | | | experience their symptoms and do not require their |
| * The suppressed Bohr effect, due to low CO2 | | | | medication. Currently, there is only one medical |
| values in the blood, further reduces oxygenation of | | | | self-oxygenation therapy practiced by hundreds of |
| the heart muscle (oxygen cannot be efficiently | | | | health and medical practitioners in Russia and other |
| released by red blood cells causing tissue hypoxia). | | | | countries. It is known as the Buteyko breathing |
| Meanwhile, it is known that low oxygenation of the | | | | method. |
| heart is the cause of the angina pain. | | | | |