Immediate impact of exercise on arterial stiffness in humans

Jae-Bin Seo, Woo-Young Chung, Sang-Hyun Kim, Myung-A Kim, Joo-Hee Zo

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center/Seoul National Uni- versity College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

DOI: 10.4236/wjcd.2013.31009                

Abstract

Background and objectives: Increased arterial stiffness is an accepted cardiovascular risk factor. Several studies have shown that regular exercise is associated with reduced arterial stiffness. However, the acute effect is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate impact of exercise on arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Subjects and Methods: Data from 100 consecutive patients who underwent graded maximal aerobic exercise test and pulse wave velocity study due to chest pain were analyzed. Results: With respect to brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), it decreased after the exercise test (before vs. after; 1420 ± 260 vs. 1358 ± 245, 1428 ± 255, vs. 1360 ±239 cm/sec; left and right, respectively). Upper extremity systolic blood pressure did not change from baseline. However, upper extremity diastolic blood pressure increased slightly. In addition, lower extremity blood pressure decreased in both systolic and diastolic phases. In both normotensives and hypertensives, baPWV decreased after exercise test. Conclusion: Exercise immediately decreases arterial stiffness.

Keywords

Arterial Stiffness; Pulse Wave Velocity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Laurent, S., Boutouyrie, P., Asmar, R., Gautier, I., Laloux, B., Guize, L., Ducimetiere, P. and Benetos, A. (2001) Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Hy- pertension, 37, 1236-1241. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.37.5.1236
[2]	Blacher, J., Asmar, R., Djane, S., London, G.M. and Sa-far, M.E. (1999) Aortic pulse wave velocity as a marker of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients. Hypertension, 33, 1111-1117. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.33.5.1111
[3]	Franklin, S.S., Khan, S.A., Wong, N.D., Larson, M.G. and Levy, D. (1999) Is pulse pressure useful in predicting risk for coronary heart Disease? The Framingham heart study. Circulation, 100, 354-360. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.100.4.354
[4]	Schiffrin, E.L. (2004) Vascular stiffening and arterial com- pliance: Implications for systolic blood pressure. American Journal of Hypertension, 17, 39S-48S. doi:10.1016/j.amjhyper.2004.08.019
[5]	Cameron, J.D. and Dart, A.M. (1994) Exercise training increases total systemic arterial compliance in humans. American Journal of Physiology, 266, H693-H701.
[6]	Tanaka, H., Dinenno, F.A., Monahan, K.D., Clevenger, C.M., DeSouza, C.A. and Seals, D.R. (2000) Aging, habitual exercise, and dynamic arterial compliance. Circu- lation, 102, 1270-1275. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.102.11.1270
[7]	Otsuki, T., Maeda, S., Iemitsu, M., Saito, Y., Tanimura, Y., Ajisaka, R., et al. (2007) Relationship between arte- rial stiffness ad athletic training programs in young adult men. American Journal of Hypertension, 20, 967-973. doi:10.1016/j.amjhyper.2007.05.001
[8]	Otsuki, T., Maeda, S., Iemitsu, M., Saito, Y., Tanimura, Y., Ajisaka, R., et al. (2007) Vascular endothelium-derived factors and arterial stiffness in strength- and endurance-trained men. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 292, H786-H791. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00678.2006
[9]	Kingwell, B.A., Cameron, J.D., Gillies, K.J., Jennings, G.L. and Dart, A.M. (1995) Arterial compliance may influence baroreflex function in athletes and hypertensives. American Journal of Physiology, 268, H411-418.
[10]	Schmidt-Trucks?ss, A., Schmid, A., Brunner, C., Scherer, N., Z?ch, G., Keul, J., et al. (2000) Arterial properties of the carotid and femoral artery in endurance-trained and paraplegic subjects. Journal of Applied Physiology, 89, 1956-1963.
[11]	Okamoto, T., Masuhara, M. and Ikuta, K. (2007) Com- bined aerobic and resistance training and vascular func- tion: Effect of aerobic exercise before and after resistance training. Journal of Applied Physiology, 103, 1655-1661. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00327.2007
[12]	Kingwell, B.A., Berry, K.L., Cameron, J.D., Jennings, G.L. and Dart, A.M. (1997) Arterial compliance increases after moderate-intensity cycling. American Journal of Physiology, 273, H2186-H2191.
[13]	Safar, M.E. and London, G.M. (2000) Therapeutic studies and arterial stiffness in hypertension: Recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension. The Clinical Committee of Arterial Structure and Function. Working Group on Vascular Structure and Function of the Euro- pean Society of Hypertension. Journal of Hypertension, 18, 1527-1535. doi:10.1097/00004872-200018110-00001
[14]	Kakiyama, T., Sugawara, J., Murakami, H., Maeda, S., Kuno, S. and Matsuda, M. (2005) Effects of short-term endurance training on aortic distensibility in young males. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 37, 267-271. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000152733.12578.5A
[15]	Sugawara, J., Otsuki, T., Tanabe, T., Hayashi, K., Maeda, S. and Matsuda, M. (2006) Physical activity duration, in- tensity, and arterial stiffening in postmenopausal women. American Journal of Hypertension, 19, 1032-1036. doi:10.1016/j.amjhyper.2006.03.008
[16]	Otsuki, T., Maeda, S., Iemitsu, M., Saito, Y., Tanimura, Y., Ajisaka, R., et al. (2006) Effects of athletic strength and endurance exercise training in young humans on plasma endothelin-1 concentration and arterial distensibility. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 231, 789-793.
[17]	Miyachi, M., Kawano, H., Sugawara, J., Takahashi, K., Hayashi, K., Yamazaki, K., et al. (2004) Unfavorable effects of resistance training on central arterial compliance: A randomized intervention study. Circulation, 110, 2858-2863. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000146380.08401.99
[18]	Miyachi, M., Donato, A.J., Yamamoto, K., Takahashi, K., Gates, P.E., Moreau, K.L., et al. (2003) Greater age-related reductions in central arterial compliance in resis- tance-trained men. Hypertension, 41, 130-135. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.0000047649.62181.88
[19]	Bertovic, D.A., Waddell, T.K., Gatzka, C.D., Cameron, J.D., Dart, A.M. and Kingwell, B.A. (1999) Muscular strength training is associated with low arterial com- pliance and high pulse pressure. Hypertension, 33, 1385- 1391. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.33.6.1385
[20]	Cortez-Cooper, M.Y., DeVan, A.E., Anton, M.M., Farrar, R.P., Beckwith, K.A., Todd, J.S., et al. (2005) Effects of high intensity resistance training on arterial stiffness and wave reflection in women. American Journal of Hypertension, 18, 930-934. doi:10.1016/j.amjhyper.2005.01.008
[21]	Chuang, S.Y., Chen, C.H., Cheung, C.M. and Chou, P. (2005) Combined use of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle-brachial index for fast assessment of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis in a community. International Journal of Cardiology, 98, 99-105. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2004.01.019
[22]	Sugawara, J., Hayashi, K., Yokoi, T., Cortez-Cooper, M.Y., DeVan, A.E., Anton, M.A., et al. (2005) Brachial- ankle pulse wave velocity: An index of central arterial stiffness? Journal of Human Hypertension, 19, 401-406. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1001838
[23]	Heffernan, K.S., Rossow, L., Jae, S.Y., Shokunbi, H.G., Gibson, E.M. and Fernhall, B. (2006) Effect of single-leg resistance exercise on regional arterial stiffness. Euro- pean Journal of Applied Physiology, 98, 185-190. doi:10.1007/s00421-006-0259-9
[24]	Sugawara, J., Maeda, S., Otsuki, T., Tanabe, T., Ajisaka, R. and Matsuda, M. (2004) Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on decrease in peripheral arterial stiffness with acute low-intensity aerobic exercise. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 287, H2666-H2669. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00077.2004
[25]	Belz, G.G. (2001) Elastic properties and windkessel function of the human aorta. Cardiovascular Drug and Therapy, 9, 73-83. doi:10.1007/BF00877747
[26]	Avolio, A.P., Deng, F.Q., Li, W.Q., Luo, Y.F., Huang, Z.D., Xing, L.F., et al. (1985) Effects of aging on arterial distensibility in populations with high and low prevalence of hypertension: Comparison between urban and rural communities in China. Circulation, 71, 202-210. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.71.2.202