Da Costa's Syndrome (or Effort Syndrome). Lecture II

Vasomotor Disturbances: 1. Tachycardia It is this sign above all others which has drawn attention to the heart, yet it is one of the commonest psychosomatic effects, occurring in every one of us under the influence of sufficient emotion. It h1as been recorded by all observers, and in my ownI series of 200 cases the pulse rate averaged 82 beats per minute (48 to 136) during casual examination in the day-time, compared -with 66 beats per minute (48 to 100) in 50 controls. During sleep, however, it is normal, averaginig 60 to 65 in Huine's series (1918). It is cus- tomary to speak of the great lability of the pulse, which is' said to accelerate unduly with change of posture, with effort, and with adrenaline. The evidence for this, how- ever, is open to criticism.