Heather Edgell

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - School of Kinesiology & Health Science

Degrees

B.Sc. Honours (Biology) - 1999
University of Alberta
Edmonton

M.Sc. (Cell Biology) - 2001
University of Alberta
Edmonton

Ph.D. (Kinesiology) - 2010
University of Waterloo
Waterloo

Postdoctoral Fellow - 2011
Western University
London

Postdoctoral Fellow - 2013
University of Alberta
Edmonton

Selected Publications

1. Barranca C, Pereira TJ, and Edgel H (2023) Oral contraceptive use amdn menstrual cycle influence acute cerebrovascular response to standing. Auton Neurosci 244: 103054


2. Pereira TJ, Wasef S, Ivry I, Assadpour E, Adeyinnka BO, and Edgel H (2022) Menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives influence cerebrovascular dynamics during hypercapnia. Physiol Rep 10(13):e15373


3. Habib K, Fallah B, and Edgell H (2022) Effect of upright poster on endothelial function in women and men. Front Physiol 13: 846229


4. Nardone M, Miner S, MCarthy M, and Edgell H (2021) Standard exercise stress testing attenuates peripheral mcirovascular function in patients with suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 13(1): 18


5. Tanbakouie N, Habib K, and Edgell H (2021) Orthostatic responses in Caucasian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern women. Clin Auton Res 31(1): 131-133


6. Murray KR, Wasef S, and Edgell H (2021) Vntilatory response to hypercapnia is increased after 4 h of head down bed rest. Sci Rep 11(1):2162


7. Robertson AD, Papadhima I, and Edgell H (2020) Sex differences in the autonomic and cerebrovascular responses to upright tilt. Auton Neurosci 229: 102742


8. Assadpour A, Ivry I, Wasef S, Adeyinka B, Murray KR, and Edgell H (2020) Oral contraceptives and menstrual cycle influence autonomic reflex function. Physiol Rep 8(17): e14550


9. Nardone M, Guzman J, Harvey PJ, Floras JS, and Edgell H (2020) Effect of a neck compression collar on cardiorespirtory and cerebrovascular function in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndorme (POTS). J Appl Physiol 128(4): 907-913


10. Nardone M, Miner S, McCarthy M, Ardern C, and Edgell H (2020) Non-invasive microvascular indices reveal peripheral vascular abnormalities in patients with suspected microvascular dysfunction. Accepted by Canadian Journal of Cardiology.


11. Joshi H, Hynes LM, and Edgell H (2019) Influence of a neck compression collar on cerebrovascular and autonomic function in men and women. PLoS One 14(12):e0225868


12. Joshi H and Edgell H (2019) Sex differences in the ventilatory and cardiovascular response to spuine and tilted metaboreflex activation. Physiol Rep 7(6): e14041


13. Fouladi B, Joshi H, and Edgell H (2019) Cardiovascular and autonomic responses to passive arm or leg movement in men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol 119(2): 551-559


14. Edgell H, Grinberg A, Beavers KB, Gagne N, and Hughson RL (2018) Efficacy of fluid loading as a countermeasure to the hemodynamic and hormonal changes of 28-h head-down bed rest. Physiol Rep 6(19): e13874


15. Hazlett C and Edgell H (2018) Chemoreflex function and brain blood flow during upright posture in men and women. Physiological reports Jan;6(1). doi: 10.14814/phy2.13571.


16. Nili M, Abidi S, Serna S, Kim S, and Edgell H (2017) Influence of sex, menstrual cycle, and oral contraceptives on the cerebrovascular response to paced deep breathing. Clin Auton Res 27(6):411-415.


17. Abidi S, Nili M, Serna S, Kim S, Hazlett C, and Edgell H (2017) Influence of sex, menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on cerebrovascular resistance and cardiorespiratory function during Valsalva or standing. J Appl Physiol 123(2): 375-386. 

Affiliations

Sunnybrook Hospital
External Collaborator

University Health Network
Visiting Scientist

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: Yes

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: No

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: Yes

Current Research

The Edgell lab at York University investigates human cardiovascular and autonomic function and will determine mechanisms behind the prevalence and lethality of cardiovascular disease in women to use this information to find potential avenues of treatment.

In particular, the lab will focus on 1) autonomic, cardiovascular, and respiratory responses to physiological stressors and the changes in those responses due to sex and/or female sex hormones, 2) investigating the symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) throughout the menstrual cycle, and 3) investigating cardiovascular and autonomic function in ME/CFS and long COVID. 

We are also embarking on important research with the Toronto Rumsey Centre and Sunnybrook hospital investigating cardiac rehabilitation in male and female Type 2 Diabetes patients.