Klarinet Archive - Posting 000401.txt from 1998/11

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Clarinet playing and high blood pressure
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 12:45:38 -0500

Ginger wrote:

> Really? That sounds neat. Maybe my dad should start playing the clarinet
> more. On another note, I think that playing the trumpet actually
> HEIGHTENS blood pressure. Ever watch them play? Some trumpeters I've seen
> turn beet red!!

During the time that you are blowing out of the horn (regardless of
clarinet, trumpet etc...) the blood flow back into the chest from the
head, arms and legs is reduced by the positive pressure you are
generating in the chest to push the air out into the horn (supporting
of the airstream). The degree to which the blood flow is impeded is
proprotional to how "hard" you have to push (the pressure developed
in the thorax) which is directly related to the resistance to airflow
through the instrument. The blood not being able to return to the
heart causes 1) an increase in the pressure in the veins, 2) a
related increase in arterial pressure and 3) the red faced trumpet
player (Note that these effects would only be seen during active
playing - they will correct themselves pretty quickly once the
positive pressure is released). Trumpet players (brass in general)
tend to develop greater intrathoracic positive pressures than
woodwind players so this can become a health risk for them. I can
envision circumstances where this would pose a risk for even a
woodwind player (e.g. a congenital Arterio-venous malformation) but
I didn't find much in the way of literature suggesting this was an
overall health risk for clarinet players. Definitely one to talk
over with your physician.

Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
1750 Independence Ave.
Kansas City, MO 641o6-1453
email: dikarius@-----.EDU

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