Stoupel E, “Cardiac Arrhythmia and Geomagnetic Activity” 50
resulting in active or stormy levels of GMA. The level of GMA is measured in Nanotesla every
three hours (8 parameters in 24 hours). The six highest results (in K or integrated A indices of
GMA) describe the day as Quiet (I), Unsettled (II), Active (III) or Stormy (IV) day of GMA
(Table 1). In the last decades many changes in the human hemeostasis related parameters were
analyzed in relation with the level of GMA2,3,4. But the level of GMA is not only a factor that can
be related with some pathologic effects. The field is also a shield defending our planet from
very energetic and potentially harmful space physical activity ingradients, such as cosmic rays
and very closely related to them, high energy space proton flux, that can be more active on the
surface of our planet when the GMA is extremely low.5,6,7 For more information special
cosmophysical literature must be used, or at least the Glossary of Solar-Terrestrial Terms8.
Table 1: Geomagnetic activity gradation
|
Category |
"A" index |
Typical "K" |
Am plitude |
|
1. Quiet (Io) |
0< A< 8 |
Usually No. > 3 |
0-20 |
|
2. Unsettled (Ho) |
8< A< 16 |
Usually No. > 3 |
21 -40 |
|
3. Active (Шо) |
16< A< 30 |
Few indices of 4 |
41 -70 |
|
4. Minorstonn(IVo) |
30< A< 50 |
Mostly 4 & 5 |
71 -120 |
|
5. Majorstonn(IVo) |
50< A< 100 |
Some indices 6 |
121 -200 |
|
6. Severe storm (TVo) |
100 < A |
Some indices 7 |
201 - >550 |
Summary of clinical data
Forensic medicine data: Sudden cardiac deaths (n=43) with signs of coronary atherosclerosis,
but without acute myocardial infarction occurred more often on days of lowest (Quiet-Io) GMA
compared with higher levels of GMA.( p>0.001).2
Holter monitoring data: Hourly atrial premature complex (APC) and ventricular premature
complex (VPC) number was more on days of lowest GMA.9,10
Sudden deaths (n=480) in three hours after beginning of symptoms (before admission, or
at the admission department) were higher on days of lowest GMA (p <0.01).9 Number of sudden
deaths dropped on days of severe geomagnetic storm (very high GMA) in July 2000 - the
"Bastille day event".11 Arrival of patients to the emergency department at a tertiary university
hospital of patients with atrial fibrillation of new origin (n=653, 1185 days of observation) was
inverse correlated with four levels of GMA (r=-0.97, p=0.02).12
Ventricular tachycardia episodes by ambulatory Holter monitoring (n=3019)
registered 27% on days of low (Io-IIo) GMA and 17% on days of two higher levels (chi2=7.3,
p=0.006).10,13
In patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction (n=14,529; 8586 men) cardiac
arrhythmic events (PAF, AT,VT, VF, n=2024) were relatively higher on days of lowest GMA.14
SCD that were occurring in one hour after the onset of symptoms (n=261) was more on days of
lowest GMA in men < 65 years (p=0.06) and women > 65years (n=0.027). SCD in woman
younger than 65 years was relatively rare.15
Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology Journal (ISSN 0972-6292), 6(1): 49-53 (2006)