The Valsalva maneuver and unexplained sudden death in asthma. An extraordinary expiratory effort in an asthmatic attack in the presence of anoxemia and sympathetic overactivity may induce severe cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest.
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003645:Death, Sudden; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012151:Resuscitation; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver