What is included during an autonomic testing session?
Autonomic testing is designed to determine how well your body is regulating your blood pressure and heart rate, and sometimes other functions. During these tests, your heart rate is measured using an electrocardiogram and your blood pressure using a cuff around your arm or finger. The tests include asking you to breathe deeply for two minutes, breathing as fast and as hard as you can for 30 seconds, maintaining a handgrip for 3 minutes, breathing against pressure for 15 seconds and placing your hand in ice water for 1 minute. All these tests are meant to stimulate your autonomic nervous system to produce changes in blood pressure and heart rate of short duration that reflect how well your involuntary nervous system is working.