Exercise Blood Pressure Response and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Middle Aged Women: A MONET Group Study

Objective: To investigate if an exaggerated peak exercise systolic blood pressure (peak ESBP) is associated with alteration of cardiometabolic risk factors and predict future resting hypertension in middle aged women. Methods: Data analysis was performed in 95 healthy normotensive premeno-pausal women at baseline and 84 after 5-year follow-up (age, 49.9 ± 1.9 years;BMI, 23.3 ± 2.2 kg/m2;resting BP, 117/73 ± 11.8/7.6 mmHg). Blood pressure was measured at rest and during a progressive exercise test on treadmill. Women were divided into two groups according to their peak ESBP <190 mmHg vs. ≥190 mmHg. Other outcome measures were: cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak), body composition, body fat distribution and fasting plasma lipids, glucose and insulin levels. Results: 15% and 27% of women presented an exaggerated peak ESBP response (≥190 mmHg) at baseline and year 5 respectively. Linear mixed model repeated measures analysis revealed higher values of fasting glucose, resting systolic and diastolic BP in women with an exaggerated peak ESBP (≥190 mmHg) compared to women with a peak ESBP (<190 mmHg). No significant difference was observed between the two groups for VO2 peak, body composition and body fat distribution indices and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Finally, baseline peak ESBP was not a significant risk factor for future resting hypertension (OR: 2.96, 95%CI [0.48 - 18.12];P = 0.24). Conclusion: Our results, despite being non significant, are of great interest because in healthy and active premenopausal women, exaggerated peak ESBP is not predictive of future hypertension after 5-year follow-up throughout menopause transition.

Preliminary study of abnormal increase of postexercise systolic blood pressure in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic value of abnormal increase of postexercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with or without hypertension. Methods Treadmill exercise testing (TET) was conducted in 88 patients (40 CAD patients, 48 control subjects) with or without hypertension, each of whom underwent selective coronary angiography (CAG). The abnormal increase of postexercise SBP was defined as 10mmHg higher than earlier periods during the recovery phase (6 minutes) of exercise testing. Results The abnormal increase of postexercise SBP had higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting CAD than those of ST - segment depression in patients with or without hypertension. Its accuracy increased with the severity of CAD while decreased in patients with hypertension, and the increase value of SBP had a positive correlation with the extent of coronary artery lesion. The combination of ST - segment depression and abnormal increase of postexercise SBP diagnosed CAD most accurately in patients with hypertension. Conclusions Abnormal increase of postexercise SBP may be a useful index for diagnosing CAD.

Modest Exercise Reduces Blood Pressure

笔者每日的工作就是坐于电脑前,不停地操作。久坐之下,必患痼疾。果然,我的血压逐年上升。30出头的我,万分焦急。常去健身中心,不锻炼到大汗淋漓,绝不回家。后来,有朋传经:锻炼不必“劳其筋骨”,适度即可。于是,我每日步行30分钟上班,半年下来,我的血压渐趋正常。今在网上读此文,大悟!朋友,记住:Even 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per week were sufficient!文章的调查方法真科学,我国的医学界怎么就不作如此调查呢?

Daily Physical Activity Improves Vascular Function and Motor Skills in Children

The literature is consistent that regular physical activity in children has to be increased in order to compensate the negative health effects resulting from growing sedentary lifestyle. Thus, we analyzed in 45 students （aged 6.6 ± 0.7 years） the effects of a regular exercise intervention, on top of the normal physical education classes, on motor performance （MP） and hemodynamic parameters. The students were randomized either to an intervention （INT） （n = 23） or a control （CON） （n = 22） group. Throughout a 9 months period, INT received additional exercise interventions two days a week for 45 minutes. The main outcome measures were MP, peripheral and central blood pressure （BP）, augmentation index （Alx） and aortic pulse wave velocity （aPWV）. After the exercise intervention, we found significant （P 〈 0.05） positive effects on various test items of MP and significant decreases in peripheral and central systolic BP in INT. In contrast, in CON the respective parameters increased in CON alter the observation period. Moreover, aPWV decreased significantly in INT （P = 0.047） and increased in CON, thus resulting in a significant difference in the mean change （P = 0.043）. There were no considerable changes in AIx in both groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that an increase in regular physical activity has a positive influence on development of MP and hemodynamic parameters even in early childhood. The findings of this study suggest that an increase in exercise time should be initiated as early as possible to improve motor ability and prevent future cardiovascular risk.