Physiological gradient

In medical science and practice, a physiological gradient is a function of changes in physiological parameters depending on a change (initiated by an external influence) or the passage of time from one point - a boundary or base level. This is a functional characteristic that reflects the extent of changes in hormonal levels (response to a certain influence), tissue resistance, tissue reactivity, etc. and is associated with the formation of a pathological condition. Most often, changes in glucose levels, body temperature and glycemia are recorded in patients with diabetes mellitus. Physiological gradients are used by clinical medical professionals to assess the severity of the disease and when planning treatment measures, for example, when assessing the effectiveness of treatment, immunocorrectors, etc. Based on the analysis of these changes, it is possible to reasonably and more accurately predict the development and outcome of diseases.

Definition of the term "physiological gradient".

A physiological gradient is a change in the value of some physiological parameter (for example, heart rate or blood pressure) over time. Typically, physiological gradients are recorded using various instruments and devices (for example, heart rate monitors), and they can reflect various states of the body, including physical activity, rest, illness, and so on.

Since physiological gradients reflect changes in the body, they play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, as well as in monitoring treatment results. In addition, physiological gradients are often used to determine a person’s physical form, assess his ability to perform certain loads and adapt to various environmental conditions.

Scope of application of physiological gradients.

Physiological gradients are widely used in sports and medicine. They are used to assess the athlete's physical fitness and readiness to perform specific exercises and loads, and to monitor his ability to adapt to various external conditions (for example, sudden changes in temperature or humidity). Such methods make it possible to increase the effectiveness of the training process, prevent possible injuries, and promptly adjust the diet, contributing to the growth of athletic form.

In the medical field, gradients are used to monitor patient health, for example, to dynamically assess autonomic homeostasis and the cardiovascular system, reduce the load on the circulatory system, prevent arrhythmias, and improve the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. Diagnosis using gradients does not require any additional blood tests, but has high sensitivity and specificity, which makes it an attractive method for use in practical medicine.

Measuring physiological gradients.

To measure physiological gradients, special devices or special markers are used that are attached to the body of an athlete or patient. In parallel with this, heart rate (HR, pulse), blood pressure, body temperature and other parameters that can affect a person’s well-being and health are measured.

A method for studying the physiological gradient.

During gradient recording, the person is in a relaxed state in order to record its natural fluctuations. After that, the obtained data is analyzed using a special computer program or a set of analyzers, which extracts the necessary gradient parameters and evaluates them over a certain period of time, highlighting the cyclicity of change, rhythm, amplitude and others