Resting heart rate rapid reduction by moderate exercise evolutionarily encoded

Abstract

BackgroundGlobal physical inactivity pandemic is responsible for more than 5 million deaths annually through its effects on non-communicable diseases. This requires urgent intervention.\n\nObjectiveTo investigate associations of physical activity with cardiovascular fitness in a cross-sectional retrospective observational study. Data were collected for 21 years from 2530 healthy volunteers and athletes representing the entire spectrum of physical activity from the totally inactive sedentary persons to the highly trained national athletes.\n\nMethodsSimple echocardiographic parameters of cardiovascular fitness were analyzed. Cardiac fitness was characterized by reduced resting heart rate, increased relative left ventricular muscular mass, improved left ventricular diastolic function and peak exercise oxygen consumption.\n\nResultsWe found that even moderate exercise is associated with improved cardiac fitness. The largest improvement of fitness was observed between the inactive and the least active group, whereas fitness decreased in the highly trained national athletes enduring up to 20 training hours per week.\n\nConclusionsOur finding that moderate exercise is associated with positive changes in sedentary persons makes sense only in the light of evolution. Human endurance running performance capabilities that emerged ~2 million years ago are evolutionary coded and seems to be awakened even by moderate exercise. This finding would help physicians to encourage patients for doable and sustainable behavioral change who are currently inactive and find physical exercise intimidating. (Word count: 218)\n\nAbbreviations\n\nKey PointsThis cross-sectional retrospective observational echocardiographic study of 2530 healthy volunteers and athletes representing the entire spectrum of physical activity from the totally inactive sedentary persons to the highly trained national athletes found that it is possible to experience cardiovascular benefits soon after the sedentary persons become physically active. This makes sense only in the light of evolution. With increasing performance level cardiovascular fitness is increased up to a point but then decreased in highly trained national athletes.\n\nThe non-invasive and simple echocardiographic test could be used to monitor exercise induced positive changes. This would help physicians in their efforts to promote the expansive benefits of exercise in all spectrums of society and encourage patients for doable and sustainable behavioral change.