Quotes About Valsalva

The body's response to this wild, Valsalvic seesawing of the vital signs can throw off the electrical rhythm of the heart. The resulting arrhythmia can be fatal. This is especially likely to happen in someone, like Elvis, with a compromised heart. Fatal arrhythmia is the cause of death listed on Presley's autopsy report.

Most experienced scuba divers frequently use the Valsalva maneuver on descent to prevent "locking" of the tube. Scuba diving in the presence of preexisting dysfunction of the tube, when nasal congestion develops, or both are risk factors for severe tubal problems and barotrauma. It is probably not wise for individuals with chronic ET dysfunction to pursue the sport of scuba diving.