Negative intrathoracic pressure (nITP) is generated by the respiratory muscles during inspiration to overcome inspiratory resistance, thus enabling lung ventilation. Recently developed noninvasive techniques have made it possible to assess the effects of nITP in real time in several physiological aspects such as systemic blood pressure (BP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). It has been shown that nITP from 0 to -20 cmH2O elevates BP and diminishes ICP, which facilitates brain perfusion. The effects of nITP from -20 to -40 cmH2O on BP, ICP, and CBF remain largely unrecognized, yet even nITP at -40 cmH2O may facilitate CBF by diminishing ICP. Importantly, nITP from -20 to -40 cmH2O has been documented in adults in commonly encountered obstructive sleep apnea, which justifies research in this area. Recent revelations about interactions between ICP and BP have opened up new fields of research in physiological regulation and the pathophysiology of common diseases, such as hypertension, brain injury, and respiratory disorders. A better understanding of these interactions may translate directly into new therapies in various fields of clinical medicine.
Keywords: blood pressure; cerebral perfusion; cerebrospinal fluid; intracranial pressure; intrathoracic pressure.