title: Cardiovascular changes during maximal breath-holding in elite divers.
abstract: During maximal breath-holding six healthy elite breath-hold divers, after an initial "easy-going" phase in which cardiovascular changes resembled the so-called "diving response", exhibited a sudden and severe rise in blood pressure during the "struggle" phase of the maneuver. These changes may represent the first tangible expression of a defense reaction, which overrides the classic diving reflex, aiming to reduce the hypoxic damage and to break the apnea before the loss of consciousness.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Italy. pietro.guaraldi@unibo.it
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Guaraldi
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Serra
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Barletta
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Pierangeli
authors: Rossana
authors: R
authors: Terlizzi
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Calandra-Buonaura
authors: Danilo
authors: D
authors: Cialoni
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Cortelli
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001049:Apnea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration