title: Dose dependency of perceived breathlessness on hypoventilation during exercise in normal subjects.
abstract: To determine whether a dose-dependent relationship exists between the subjective sensation of breathlessness and hypoventilation during steady-state exercise, we measured breathlessness at six levels of volitionally suppressed ventilation. To achieve this, subjects targeted their breathing at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% below their spontaneous exercise level. All 12 subjects were successful in hypoventilating in a graded manner. However, in general, the degree of hypoventilation achieved was less than that of the target level set; this discrepancy was greatest at the higher target levels. Volitional hypoventilation at target levels of > or = 10% caused significant decreases in ventilation and significant increases in end-tidal PCO2. All levels of volitional hypoventilation caused increased ratings of breathlessness, reaching statistical significance at a set target level of 15%. Significant increases in breathlessness intensity were associated with increases in end-tidal PCO2 of 2-3 Torr. We conclude that, during steady-state exercise, there appears to be a dose-dependent relationship between breathlessness and volitionally induced inappropriately low ventilation. The need to minimize such subjective sensations of breathlessness may play a role in the increased ventilation observed during exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Harty
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007040:Hypoventilation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010313:Partial Pressure; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration; D012649:Self Concept; D012677:Sensation; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014836:Volition
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide