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.
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Guaraldi, P., Serra, M., Barletta, G. et al. Cardiovascular changes during maximal breath-holding in elite divers. Clin Auton Res 19, 363–366 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-009-0025-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-009-0025-2