Click here for a larger display of this information.

There is also a recording of the Systematic Approach to reading the DPA Results.

A text of the information on that audio is presented here. This information is from the point of view of a DPA Technician.

There are eight portions of the display that will be discussed. Printing out the information on this or the larger page might be useful as you follow this discussion.

1. Recognition - Here we are looking to determine that the finger probe detected the pulses. When the measurement is completed we get a Recognition number such as 98/98 shown in the bottom right of the screen. This indicates that all of the pulses were detected.

2. Pulse Rate - This is the number of beats per minute of your heart. Chiildren over 10 and adults usually fall in a range between 60 and 100 with a rate over 80 usually being considered as fast. Well conditioned athletes are likely to be between 40 and 60.

3. Pulse Height - This relates to the pressure or volume of each heart beat. Another way to describe it is Stroke Volume or Pulse Amplitude. The Pulse Height will likely be constantly changing.

4. ETc - Estimated Left Ventricular Ejection Time. During the period of contraction, the heart pumps blood out through the arteries while during the period of relaxation, the heart fills with blood.

5. EEI - Ejection Elastic Index. Indicates the Left Ventricular Ejection power and compliance (elasticity) in the Large Arteries.

6. DDI - Dicrotic Dilation Index. This is the Reflection of Contractility and Compliance of the Small Arteries

7. DEI - Dicrotic Elastic Index. This is a Reflection of Contractility and/or Stiffness in Peripheral Arteries

8. APG - Accelerated Plethysmograph This mathematically derived data separates the components of the waveform more clearly resulting in a “biological” age of the arteries. This Biological Arterial Age is considered to be accurate within +/- five years and is shown with a letter from A to G which means the following:

A = 20 years
B = 30 years
C = 40 years
D= 50 years
E - 60 years
F = 70 years
G = 80 years

A number is shown in brackets just to the right of the letter. This is not a biological age. A “D” (72) does not have arteries that are as young as a “D” (65).

I have found that as my arterial age goes down, my energy goes up and I feel younger in many ways.