Learned heart-rate control by a patient with a ventricular parasystolic rhythm.
A 31-year-old woman with a ventricular parasystolic rhythm is described. The arrhythmia was always absent below a rate of 72 per minute, and always present over a rate of 106 per minute. Voluntary heart-rate control was learned using a biofeedback techinque, as a result of which she could increase her rate by 25 per minute and decrease it by 1-2 per minute. Both voluntary speeding and exercise brought on the arrhythmia, but later in the training she could reach a higher heart-rate before the arrhythmia appeared. Propranolol inhibited the arrhythmia only to the extent that is slowed the heart.
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012146:Rest; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy
D011433:Propranolol