Congestive heart failure and biofeedback

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Feb-March, 2005  by Robert A. Anderson

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Forty congestive heart failure patients were randomized to engage in one session of thermal biofeedback augmented by imagery of hand warming and muscle relaxation or to be conventionally handled controls. In the intervention group mean increases were: skin temperature 3.1[degrees]F (p<.005), cardiac output 0.3 L/min ([up arrow]9%) (p<.005), [O.sub.2] consumption 19 ml/min (NS); with decreases in: systemic vascular resistance 162 dyne-sec-[cm.sup.3] (p<.005), respiratory rate 5/min p<.005) and plasma epinephrine 51 to 37 pg/ml (NS) compared to no changes in controls.

Moser DK et al. Voluntary control of vascular tone by using skin-temperature biofeedback-relaxation in patients with advanced heart failure. Altern Ther Health Med 1997 Jan; 3(1):51-59

COMMENT: Since physiological changes with biofeedback tend with enough practice to become habitual and constant outside the time periods of conscious attention, biofeedback would appear here to be very helpful adjunctive treatment in congestive heart failure. This condition currently strikes about one million Americans each year and 50% of patients die within 5 years of diagnosis. While antioxidants, magnesium, and biosynthesized substances given in pharmacological amounts (Co-Q10, taurine, carnitine) all prolong life, the 9% gain in left ventricular ejection fraction after one thermal biofeedback session is surely impressive enough to elicit interest in all practitioners who want to employ all alternative and conventional measures to control this condition.

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group