Resistance and aerobic exercise protects against acute endothelial impairment induced by a single exposure to hypertension during exertion

Abstract

Resistance and aerobic exercise is recommended for cardiovascular health and disease prevention. However, the accompanying increase in arterial pressure during resistance exercise may be detrimental to vascular health. This study tests the vascular benefits of aerobic compared with resistance exercise on preventing impaired vascular function induced by a single weight lifting session that is associated with acute hypertension. Healthy, lean sedentary (SED) subjects, weight lifters, runners (>15 miles/wk), and cross trainers (chronic aerobic and resistance exercisers), underwent a single progressive leg press weight lifting session with blood pressure measurements. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; an index of arterial endothelial function) was determined using ultrasonography immediately before and after weight lifting. Sublingual nitroglycerin (0.4 mg) was used to determine endothelium-independent dilation after weight lifting. All subjects were normotensive with similar blood pressure responses during exercise. Baseline FMD was lower in runners (5.4 ± 0.5%; n = 13) and cross trainers (4.44 ± 0.3%; n = 13) vs. SED (8.5 ± 0.8%; n = 13; P = 0.037). Brachial FMD improved in conditioned weight lifters (to 8.8 ± 0.9%; P = 0.007) and runners (to 7.6 ± 0.6%; P < 0.001) but not cross trainers (to 5.3 ± 0.6%; P = NS) after acute hypertension. FMD was decreased in SED (to 5.7 ± 0.4%; P = 0.019). Dilation to nitroglycerin was similar among groups. These data suggest that endothelial responses are maintained after exposure to a single bout of weight lifting in resistance and aerobic athletes. Resistance and aerobic exercise may confer similar protection against acute vascular insults such as exertional hypertension.

Fig. 1.

Individual subject percent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) responses at pre- and postexercise time points in sedentary (A), conditioned weight lifters (B), runners (C), and cross trainers (D) groups. Mean pre- and post-FMD are represented as means ± SE in each group. *Significant change in responses pre-and post-acute hypertension induced by weight lifting.

Fig. 2.

Individual subject systolic blood pressure at pre-and peak exercise time points in sedentary (A), conditioned weight lifters (B), runners (C), and cross trainers (D) groups. Mean pre- and peak SBP are represented as means ± SE in each group. *Indicates significant increase from baseline (P < 0.05).