Exercise-induced blood pressure increases predict survival
24 December 2007
MedWire News: An increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during exercise stress testing appears to be associated with improved survival in men, researchers report.
Data suggest that exercise-induced increases in SBP are prognostic for cardiovascular (CV) mortality, independent of age, resting blood pressure, and common cardiac risk factors.
To determine whether SPB measured during exercise stress testing adds prognostic information to CV mortality, Manish Gupta, from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, USA, and colleagues evaluated SBP responses in 6213 consecutive men referred for exercise stress testing for clinical reasons.
Patients were grouped according to whether their median change in exercise induced SPB was ≤43 mmHg or ≥44 mmHg, representing low and normal increases in SPB, respectively.
The results demonstrated that patients with increases in baseline SBP ≥44 mmHg had significantly lower mortality than patients with increases in baseline SBP ≤43 mmHg, at 8.2% versus 13.7%, respectively. This difference in improved survival remained after controlling for age, exercise capacity, ST abnormalities, history of myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure, hypertension, and use of a beta blocker.
The researchers also found that the survival benefit was incremental, with patients in the highest quartile of increased SBP (≥76 mmHg) having significantly lower CV mortality than patients in the lowest quartile (≤42 mmHg), at 7.3% versus 16.7%, respectively. Importantly, a history of hypertension was independently and significantly associated with a higher SPB response to exercise.
The team concludes in the American Journal of Cardiology that an increase in SPB with exercise stress test predicts cardiovascular mortality independent of age, exercise capacity, and ST-segment abnormalities.
They add that "an increase in systolic BP≥ 44 mmHg from baseline [is] associated with survival even in patients with a history of hypertension," and emphasize that the findings are applicable only to men because exercise testing results have been shown to differ between genders.
Source: Am J Cardiol 2007; 100: 1609-1613
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Regular Exercise Reduces Risk Of Blood Clots
Regular Exercise Reduces Risk Of Blood Clots
21 Nov 2007
According to a new study published in Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, regular participation in sports reduces the risk of developing blood clots by 39 percent in women and 22 percent in men.
Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands evaluated 7,860 people aged 18-70. Patients who had suffered their first blood clot in a leg vein or lung artery were compared with control subjects who had never experienced blood clots. 31 percent of the patients and 40 percent of the control group participated in sports on a regular basis.
Overall figures for both sexes showed that participating in sports at least once per week, regardless of the type of sport or its intensity, reduced the risk of developing a blood clot in a lung artery by 46 percent and a blood clot in a leg vein by 24 percent. "Women were shown to be even more likely to reap the benefits of regular sporting activities than men," says F.R. Rosendaal, co-author of the study. "When we excluded women who were pregnant or receiving oral contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy - all possible causes of blood clots - the risk for women was reduced by 55 percent."
The authors note that, while strenuous activity is known to increase the risk of blood clot development in the elderly, regular exercise is also shown to greatly benefit the heart, and that the net effect of elderly sports participation may be positive.
The findings also show that people who did not participate in sports were more than four-times as likely to develop a blood clot if they were obese (with a body mass index of 30 or greater) than lean (with a body mass index of less than 25). "When we looked at the results, we found that, overall, the mere fact that people took part in a sporting activity at least once a week was enough to lower their risk of blood clots," say the authors.
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
21 Nov 2007
According to a new study published in Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, regular participation in sports reduces the risk of developing blood clots by 39 percent in women and 22 percent in men.
Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands evaluated 7,860 people aged 18-70. Patients who had suffered their first blood clot in a leg vein or lung artery were compared with control subjects who had never experienced blood clots. 31 percent of the patients and 40 percent of the control group participated in sports on a regular basis.
Overall figures for both sexes showed that participating in sports at least once per week, regardless of the type of sport or its intensity, reduced the risk of developing a blood clot in a lung artery by 46 percent and a blood clot in a leg vein by 24 percent. "Women were shown to be even more likely to reap the benefits of regular sporting activities than men," says F.R. Rosendaal, co-author of the study. "When we excluded women who were pregnant or receiving oral contraceptive or hormone replacement therapy - all possible causes of blood clots - the risk for women was reduced by 55 percent."
The authors note that, while strenuous activity is known to increase the risk of blood clot development in the elderly, regular exercise is also shown to greatly benefit the heart, and that the net effect of elderly sports participation may be positive.
The findings also show that people who did not participate in sports were more than four-times as likely to develop a blood clot if they were obese (with a body mass index of 30 or greater) than lean (with a body mass index of less than 25). "When we looked at the results, we found that, overall, the mere fact that people took part in a sporting activity at least once a week was enough to lower their risk of blood clots," say the authors.
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Aerobic, Resistance Training Improve Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes
Aerobic, Resistance Training Improve Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes
Both aerobic and resistance training help lower hemoglobin A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes — and a combination of the two is even more beneficial — researchers report in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Some 250 inactive diabetes patients were randomized to one of four groups: aerobic training, resistance training, both, or no exercise. The active-treatment groups exercised 3 times weekly for 22 weeks.
Adjusted absolute HbA1c levels fell significantly with aerobic training (-0.51 percentage point vs. no exercise) and resistance training (-0.38); the combination-exercise group saw additional reductions (-0.46 vs. aerobic training, -0.59 vs. resistance training). Changes in blood pressure and lipids did not differ among the groups.
The authors cite research showing a 15% to 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events with a 1-percentage-point decrease in HbA1c. Editorialists note limitations of the current study but conclude: "Failing to prescribe exercise to patients with diabetes is simply unacceptable practice."
Annals of Internal Medicine article (Free)
Annals of Internal Medicine editorial (Subscription required)
Both aerobic and resistance training help lower hemoglobin A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes — and a combination of the two is even more beneficial — researchers report in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Some 250 inactive diabetes patients were randomized to one of four groups: aerobic training, resistance training, both, or no exercise. The active-treatment groups exercised 3 times weekly for 22 weeks.
Adjusted absolute HbA1c levels fell significantly with aerobic training (-0.51 percentage point vs. no exercise) and resistance training (-0.38); the combination-exercise group saw additional reductions (-0.46 vs. aerobic training, -0.59 vs. resistance training). Changes in blood pressure and lipids did not differ among the groups.
The authors cite research showing a 15% to 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events with a 1-percentage-point decrease in HbA1c. Editorialists note limitations of the current study but conclude: "Failing to prescribe exercise to patients with diabetes is simply unacceptable practice."
Annals of Internal Medicine article (Free)
Annals of Internal Medicine editorial (Subscription required)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Exercise Must Mean Exertion If You Want Good Health
Exercise Must Mean Exertion If You Want Good Health
19 Aug 2007
If you want to get any health benefit from exercise you have to push yourself, according to an article published in the journal Circulation. Members of the American College of Sports Medicine wonder whether some people's idea of 30 minutes of gentle exercise might not be just a bit too gentle.
The writers state that for good health you should aim for 30 minutes moderate exercise five days per week, or vigorous exercise could be done three days a week.
The definition of what constitutes the right amount of exercise for good health appears to be a bit nebulous. Brisk walking is classed as moderate exercise while running/jogging is classed as vigorous.
According to the World Health Organization we should do 30 minutes of gentle exercise each day in order to maintain a basic level of fitness.
A recent study, carried out by scientists from Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, found that the fitness and blood pressure benefits of walking 30 minutes a day five times a week were no better than walking 30 minutes three times a week. The writers of this latest article wonder whether this information might not encourage people to exercise too little.
The authors wrote "There are people who have not accepted, and others who have misinterpreted the original recommendation. Some people continue to believe that only vigorous intensity activity will improve health while others believe that the light activities of their daily lives are sufficient to promote health."
The authors believe that people should include both vigorous and moderate exercise, combined with some weight training each week, for example, a mixture of jogging, fast walking and strength exercises. Even brief bursts of physical activity, as long as they are at least ten minutes long are OK, they wrote. If you manage to do more than that you will probably enjoy extra health benefits.
This does not mean you should go full pelt and exercise so much you end up doing yourself harm, the authors stress. Pregnant women and people over 65 years of age should make sure their levels of exercise are measured and well planned.
Circulation
19 Aug 2007
If you want to get any health benefit from exercise you have to push yourself, according to an article published in the journal Circulation. Members of the American College of Sports Medicine wonder whether some people's idea of 30 minutes of gentle exercise might not be just a bit too gentle.
The writers state that for good health you should aim for 30 minutes moderate exercise five days per week, or vigorous exercise could be done three days a week.
The definition of what constitutes the right amount of exercise for good health appears to be a bit nebulous. Brisk walking is classed as moderate exercise while running/jogging is classed as vigorous.
According to the World Health Organization we should do 30 minutes of gentle exercise each day in order to maintain a basic level of fitness.
A recent study, carried out by scientists from Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, found that the fitness and blood pressure benefits of walking 30 minutes a day five times a week were no better than walking 30 minutes three times a week. The writers of this latest article wonder whether this information might not encourage people to exercise too little.
The authors wrote "There are people who have not accepted, and others who have misinterpreted the original recommendation. Some people continue to believe that only vigorous intensity activity will improve health while others believe that the light activities of their daily lives are sufficient to promote health."
The authors believe that people should include both vigorous and moderate exercise, combined with some weight training each week, for example, a mixture of jogging, fast walking and strength exercises. Even brief bursts of physical activity, as long as they are at least ten minutes long are OK, they wrote. If you manage to do more than that you will probably enjoy extra health benefits.
This does not mean you should go full pelt and exercise so much you end up doing yourself harm, the authors stress. Pregnant women and people over 65 years of age should make sure their levels of exercise are measured and well planned.
Circulation
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