Demands at work are associated with an increased risk of cardio vascular diseases, but little is known about its underlying connection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of physical and mental tasks that induced stress, on Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Another aim was to observe the trends in subjective workload ratings in conjunction with the physiological response of the heart and also to assess the comfort level of the participants while wearing the heart rate monitor and performing tasks. Heart rate was recorded while at rest and while performing the tasks. Subjective workload ratings were obtained from NASA-TLX and the comfort scores from a comfort questionnaire for each task. The power spectral components HF, LF, LF/HF and the time domain RMSSD, were used as the components of HRV in the analysis. The results indicated that all the components of HRV examined were sensitive to physical and mental demands. The HF and RMSSD components decreased with increase in demands from the baseline values. The LF and the LF/HF ratio increased with increase in demands. Overall results indicated reduction in HRV when demanding physical and mental tasks were performed. Subjective workload ratings changed in accordance with the physiological response. Subjective workload rating was high for both the tasks. Overall comfort score indicated that the participants were comfortable while wearing the heart rate monitor and performing the tasks. The evidence from this study suggested that these simulated work factors (physical and mental demands) influence risk factors that may increase risk for CVDs in work places. It is recommended that future research be conducted in the field to quantify HRV and the workplace/tasks be redesigned to reduce excessive physical and mental demands.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-08222009-204359 |
| Date | 26 August 2009 |
| Creators | Paritala, Satya Anasuya |
| Contributors | Ikuma, Laura H., Aghazadeh, Fereydoun., Sarker, Bhaba R. |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-08222009-204359/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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