1Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research (SMIMER), Surat
2Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research (SMIMER), Surat
3Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
Present study attempts to compare autonomic parasympathetic functions in fresh, uncomplicated, untreated, clinically ‘hypothyroid’ patients with those in healthy control subjects. The tools used for evaluation of parasympathetic functions are the Valsalva Manoeuvre and the Deep Breath Test. These tests are inexpensive and very easy to perform. Thus, if found useful, they could be used as a cheaper alternative to expensive biochemical tests for routine screening of patients for hypothyroidism. Using these tests, it was finally concluded that lack of thyroid hormone does affect the parasympathetic system significantly.
Valsalva Manoeuvre, Deep Breath Test, Hypothyroidism, Autonomic Nervous System, Parasympathetic Functions, Vagal activity
