Effects of repetitive prolonged breath-hold in elite divers on myocardial fibrosis and cerebral morphology

Although, prolonged apnea leads to impressive adaptions of the cardiovascular system (i.e. dilation of the left ventricle) and hypertension due to peripheral vasoconstriction no mid-term morphological changes could be observed in both, the myocardium and the brain. BH divers are suitable as a model to investigate acute physiological changes of prolonged apnea and hypoxemia, but not as a model for chronic alterations.