Ethnic Differences in Physiological Responses Associated with the Valsalva Maneuver

Abstract

Ethnic differences in cardiovascular indices at rest and across the Valsalva maneuver (VM) were studied in 30 Asian, 86 Caucasian, and 12 Black healthy men and women aged 30 to 55 years. Subjects simulated the VM by blowing into an aneroid pressure‐gauge meter to 40 mmHg for 10 seconds. Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in Blacks than in Asians or Caucasians. During the strain phase of the VM, the fall in SBP from baseline was significantly greater in Asians and Blacks than in Caucasians. Further, Asians had the greatest overshoot of SBP above baseline. Although resting heart rate was significantly higher in Asians compared to Caucasians, there were no differences in heart rate responses to the VM. Reduction in carotid artery blood flow velocity during strain was significantly less in Blacks. We conclude that there are ethnic differences in cardiovascular indices at rest and across the VM.