Rock the CAMRT Radiography Exam 2026 – Snap Your Future into Focus!

The purpose of the Valsalva maneuver is primarily associated with influencing heart rate. When a person performs the Valsalva maneuver, which involves exhaling forcefully with a closed mouth and nose, it creates a temporary increase in intrathoracic pressure. This action can lead to an initial increase in heart rate, followed by a reflexive decrease as blood pressure changes due to the altered venous return to the heart.

The maneuver is often used in clinical settings to trigger a vagal response, which can slow the heart rate. This effect can be particularly valuable in treating certain types of tachycardia, where the heart is beating abnormally fast. By understanding this physiological response, medical professionals can effectively use the Valsalva maneuver to manage specific cardiac conditions.

Other choices, while they may have some relation to the body’s systems, do not align specifically with the main purpose or desired outcome of the Valsalva maneuver. The focus on heart rate modulation sets this option apart as the correct answer.