A1 Journal article (refereed)
Baroreflex sensitivity following acute upper-body exercise in the cold among stable coronary artery disease patients (2023)

Pikkarainen, K., Valtonen, R. I. P., Hintsala, H. E., Kiviniemi, A., Crandall, C. G., Perkiömäki, J., Hautala, A. J., Tulppo, M. P., Jaakkola, J. J. K., & Ikäheimo, T. M. (2023). Baroreflex sensitivity following acute upper-body exercise in the cold among stable coronary artery disease patients. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, Article 1184378. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1184378

JYU authors or editors

Hautala, Arto

Publication details

All authors or editors: Pikkarainen, Kalle; Valtonen, Rasmus I. P.; Hintsala, Heidi E.; Kiviniemi, Antti; Crandall, Craig G.; Perkiömäki, Juha; Hautala, Arto J.; Tulppo, Mikko P.; Jaakkola, Jouni J. K.; Ikäheimo, Tiina M.

Journal or series: Frontiers in Physiology

eISSN: 1664-042X

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 13/10/2023

Volume: 14

Article number: 1184378

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1184378

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/91857

Abstract

Background: A cold environment and exercise separately affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and blood pressure variability (BPV) but their combined effects on post-exercise recovery are not known. Our cross-over trial examined these responses following upper-body static and dynamic exercise performed in a cold and neutral environment in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: 20 patients with stable coronary artery disease performed both graded static (10%–30% of maximal voluntary contraction) and dynamic (light, moderate and high perceived intensity) upper-body exercise at −15°C and +22°C for 30 min. Electrocardiogram and continuous blood pressure were measured to compute post-exercise (10 and 30 min after exercise) spectral powers of heart rate (HR), blood pressure variability and BRS at low (0.04–0.15 Hz) and high (0.15–0.4 Hz) frequencies.

Results: Static upper-body exercise performed in a cold environment increased post-exercise high frequency (HF) spectral power of heart rate (HF RR) (p < 0.001) and reduced heart rate (p = 0.001) and low-to-high frequency (LF/HF) ratio (p = 0.006) more than in a neutral environment. In addition, post-exercise mean BRS (p = 0.015) and high frequency BRS (p = 0.041) increased more following static exercise in the cold than in a neutral environment. Dynamic upper-body exercise performed in a cold environment reduced post-exercise HF BRS (p = 0.019) and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: Static upper-body exercise in the cold increased post-exercise BRS and overall vagal activity but without reduced systolic blood pressure. Dynamic upper-body exercise in the cold reduced post-exercise vagal BRS but did not affect the other parameters. The influence of cold exposure on post-exercise autonomic and cardiovascular responses following static upper-body exercise require further studies. This information helps understanding why persons with cardiovascular diseases are vulnerable to low environmental temperature. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02855905 (04/08/2016).

Keywords: coronary artery disease; physical training; training; cold; temperature; autonomic nervous system; blood pressure