Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1
Nor Farah
 -- 1379 2022-04-15 06:22:57 |
2 references added.
Beatrix Zheng
 + 5 word(s) 1384 2022-04-15 11:42:35 |

Video Upload Options

We provide professional Video Production Services to translate complex research into visually appealing presentations. Would you like to try it?
No, upload directly Yes

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Farah, N.; Joo, C.; Mat Ludin, A.F. Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/21807 (accessed on 26 December 2024).
Farah N, Joo C, Mat Ludin AF. Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/21807. Accessed December 26, 2024.
Farah, Nor, Chen Joo, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin. "Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/21807 (accessed December 26, 2024).
Farah, N., Joo, C., & Mat Ludin, A.F. (2022, April 15). Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/21807
Farah, Nor, et al. "Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity." Encyclopedia. Web. 15 April, 2022.
Benefits of Exercise for Lowering Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity
Edit
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/jcdd9040106

Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to and delayed recovery from stress increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future. It is evident that exercise training and aerobic fitness are associated with reduced cardiovascular reactivity and enhanced recovery from stress, but the effects with acute exercise are less characterized. This research sought to explore the range and variety of available studies using acute exercise to lower stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity and recovery. In general, acute exercise particularly of the moderate-intensity, aerobic type effectively reduced stress-induced Blood pressure (BP) reactivity in the healthy population and in those with high blood pressure. This shows that with just a single bout of exercise can help to lower cardiovascular reactivity in response to stress without having to undergo extensive exercise training. Further research would be recommended to establish if other forms of exercise intensity or type are equally beneficial to lower exaggerated cardiovascular responses to stress.

aerobic exercise HIIT autonomic function blood pressure heart rate chronic stress

1. Introduction

Acute exposure to a psychological or physical stressor evokes heightened cardiovascular responses, characterized by rises in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) from a baseline or resting state, termed as cardiovascular reactivity. Over the short term, such stressor-induced cardiovascular reactivity provides hemodynamic and metabolic support to enable animals and humans to adapt to life-threatening or challenging situations (i.e., fight-or-flight response) [1]. Over the long term, however, frequent exposures to physical and/or psychological situations in day-to-day life can result in tendencies to exhibit exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity and delayed recovery, which can adversely impact homeostasis and trigger or exacerbate an array of pathophysiological changes involving the cardiovascular system [2][3]. This is so much so that individuals showing exaggerated or large magnitudes of cardiovascular reactions in response to a stressor are at greater risk for premature development of hypertension and other precursors to coronary heart disease, adverse clinical cardiovascular events and premature cardiovascular mortality [3][4]. As such, understanding how cardiovascular reactivity can be prevented or mitigated may be relevant in stress management and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The benefits of exercise on cardiovascular health are well-established. Many studies have shown that regular physical activity and exercise training are generally associated with better cardiovascular responses to acute stress, and not only does exercise attenuate the magnitude of hyperarousal associated with the stress response but also enhances cardiovascular recovery after stress exposure [2][5]. The proposed mechanisms are by lowering stress-induced cortisol responses [6], enhancing parasympathetic tone and reducing sympathetic nerve activity [7], leading to improved cardiac control in response to stress. Apart from exercise training, there are also reports showing that even a single or an acute bout of exercise can transiently mitigate the exaggerated cardiovascular responses to stressful conditions [8][9][10][11][12]. The evidence indicates that the beneficial effects of exercise in lowering stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity can be achieved acutely and without having to undergo extensive exercise training.
However, the evidence surrounding acute exercise and cardiovascular reactivity is still not well characterized, due to the huge variability in exercise protocols, e.g., intensity, type and duration. These huge variations in methodology have led to inconsistencies in the findings, which limits the researchers' current understanding surrounding the role of acute exercise in minimizing cardiovascular hyperarousal related to stress response. Furthermore, with the increasing global prevalence of chronic stress especially since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, recognizing exercise protocols that are effective to offset cardiac hyperarousal states associated with daily stress is useful to help mitigate abnormal cardiovascular responses or events in the long term, especially among those who are vulnerable to stress exposures.

2. Key Findings

In this entry, the researchers specifically focused on the effects of acute or single exercise sessions of various modalities and intensities on stress-induced cardiovascular outcomes, namely BP and HR reactivity and recovery, as well as heart rate variability (HRV) in the general populations. BP reactivity was the most frequently studied outcome in these studies, followed by HR reactivity. From the total of 36 studies, the researchers identified 17–20 articles which have reported lower BP reactivity with exercise compared to control. Overall, the majority of studies employed aerobic continuous exercise (ACE) with moderate intensity, while the high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) modality is gaining interest in the field of exercise and stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity.
These findings showed that there seems to be a consistent trend pointing towards lower BP reactivity with acute exercise in response to a stress exposure, in particular with ACE modality of moderate intensity. Other modalities such as HIIE and resistance exercise are also associated with reduced BP reactivity to stress to a lesser extent. Comparisons between exercise intensities or modalities are rather inconclusive; however, some of the findings seem to be suggesting that exercise of higher intensity [10][13][14] or volume [15][16] attenuates BP reactivity to a greater degree than exercise of low intensity or volume of the same modality. This may be related to a greater stimulation of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans through the increased production of nitric oxide, which may help to lower blood pressure responses during and post-exercise [17]. Interestingly, studies involving hypertension [8][17][18] or individuals with elevated BP [13][14][19] also showed favorable outcomes in BP reactivity with exercise, suggesting that those with an apparent cardiovascular risk factor may also benefit from the effects of acute exercise on reducing adverse BP responses from stress exposure.

3. Research Gaps and Implications for Future Research

Based on this research, the researchers identified several relevant gaps that currently exist in the literature and can be avenues for further research. There is one observation that is worth noting from the research, and that is that the HIIE modality may be equally effective if not better than ACE in attenuating BP reactivity. The fact that there is growing and robust evidence that HIIE shows similar or greater efficacy compared with moderate-intensity continuous training across a range of cardiovascular outcomes [20][21][22][23] highlights the need for further research to dissect the benefits of this particular exercise in modulating BP responses to stress. Furthermore, HIIE can be performed in various ways by manipulating variables such as exercise modality, intensity, work interval, rest times and set repetitions, making it a flexible training program that can be designed to suit specific populations. In particular, it remains to be ascertained which HIIE protocol is the best in minimizing cardiovascular stress reactivity. Although the evidence in this research is limited, the findings somewhat suggest that shorter-bout protocols (<60 s) [12][19][24] may be associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity compared to longer-lasting bouts (>60 s) [25][26][27]. This is certainly an area worthy of further investigation in helping to design safer HIIE/HIIT protocols that can minimize cardiovascular stress, especially for populations with chronic stress or elevated BP.
A small number of studies in this research showed favorable outcomes on cardiovascular reactivity with acute exercise in hypertensive individuals. This has important implications for exercise as an effective therapy in combatting the deleterious impact of chronic stress and other risk factors that accelerate CVD in high-risk population. In addition, studies exploring how acute exercise can modulate molecular mediators such as muscle-derived myokines [28], and their possible cardioprotective role in mediating biological pathways involved in cardiovascular functions and stress reactivity, especially in populations with apparent cardiovascular risks, should also be considered. Finally, could it be possible that the timing of exercise and stress exposure relative to the 24 h circadian cycle has an influence on reactivity of the cardiovascular system? It is established that BP and HR exhibit diurnal variations over a 24 h period, and these changes are under the influence of behavioral, humoral and autonomic (sympathetic nervous system) factors [29][30]. Given that it is evident that the sympathetic tone is greater in the morning compared to evening [31][32], perhaps investigating the influence of timing of exercise, e.g., morning vs. evening, on cardiovascular reactivity would shed some understanding regarding timing effect and cardiovascular health.

4. Conclusion

This entry intended to explore the range and variety of available studies using acute exercise as a therapeutic tool to lower stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity in the general population and to produce evidence of additional benefits of acute exercise on cardiovascular health beyond improving the traditional risk factors. The researchers conclude that an acute bout of moderate intensity exercise is effective at preventing exaggerated blood pressure responses to a stress exposure. These findings may provide insight in understanding the therapeutic scope and effectiveness of acute exercise in managing stress responses to address the ill effects of stress on cardiovascular health. 

References

  1. Ginty, A.T.; Kraynak, T.E.; Fisher, J.P.; Gianaros, P.J. Cardiovascular and autonomic reactivity to psychological stress: Neurophysiological substrates and links to cardiovascular disease. Auton. Neurosci. Basic Clin. 2017, 207, 2–9.
  2. Huang, C.J.; Webb, H.E.; Zourdos, M.C.; Acevedo, E.O. Cardiovascular reactivity, stress, and physical activity. Front. Physiol. 2013, 4, 314.
  3. Chida, Y.; Steptoe, A. Greater cardiovascular responses to laboratory mental stress are associated with poor subsequent cardiovascular risk status: A meta-analysis of prospective evidence. Hypertension 2010, 55, 1026–1032.
  4. Gianaros, P.J.; Sheu, L.K.; Uyar, F.; Koushik, J.; Jennings, J.R.; Wager, T.D.; Singh, A.; Verstynen, T.D. A Brain Phenotype for Stressor-Evoked Blood Pressure Reactivity. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 2017, 6, e006053.
  5. Forcier, K.; Stroud, L.R.; Papandonatos, G.D. Links between physical fitness and cardiovascular reactivity and recovery to psychological stressors: A meta-analysis. Health Psychol. 2006, 25, 723–739.
  6. Rimmele, U.; Seiler, R.; Marti, B.; Wirtz, P.H.; Ehlert, U.; Heinrichs, M. The level of physical activity affects adrenal and cardiovascular reactivity to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009, 34, 190–198.
  7. Besnier, F.; Labrunée, M.; Pathak, A.; Pavy-Le Traon, A.; Galès, C.; Sénard, J.M.; Guiraud, T. Exercise training-induced modification in autonomic nervous system: An update for cardiac patients. Ann. Phys. Rehabil. Med. 2017, 60, 27–35.
  8. Boone, J.B.; Probst, M.M.; Rogers, M.W.; Berger, R. Postexercise hypotension reduces cardiovascular responses to stress. J. Hypertens. 1993, 11, 449–453.
  9. Brownley, K.A.; Hinderliter, A.L.; West, S.G.; Girdler, S.S.; Sherwood, A.; Light, K.C. Sympathoadrenergic mechanisms in reduced hemodynamic stress responses after exercise. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2003, 35, 978–986.
  10. Alderman, B.L.; Arent, S.M.; Landers, D.M.; Rogers, T.J. Aerobic exercise intensity and time of stressor administration influence cardiovascular responses to psychological stress. Psychophysiology 2007, 44, 759–766.
  11. Taylor, A.H.; Oliver, A.J. Acute effects of brisk walking on urges to eat chocolate, affect, and responses to a stressor and chocolate cue. An experimental study. Appetite 2009, 52, 155–160.
  12. Farah, N.M.; Amran, A.D.; Che Muhamed, A.M. Attenuation of stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity following high-intensity interval exercise in untrained males. J. Sports Sci. 2021, 39, 2755–2762.
  13. Roy, M.; Steptoe, A. The inhibition of cardiovascular responses to mental stress following aerobic exercise. Psychophysiology 1991, 28, 689–700.
  14. Steptoe, A.; Kearsley, N.; Walters, N. Cardiovascular activity during mental stress following vigorous exercise in sportsmen and inactive men. Psychophysiology 1993, 30, 245–252.
  15. Hobson, M.L.; Rejeski, W.J. Does the dose of acute exercise mediate psychophysiological responses to mental stress. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 1993, 15, 77–87.
  16. Rejeski, W.J.; Gregg, E.; Thompson, A.; Berry, M. The Effects of Varying Doses of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Psychophysiological Stress Responses in Highly Trained Cyclist. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 1991, 13, 188–199.
  17. West, S.G.; Brownley, K.A.; Light, K.C. Postexercise vasodilatation reduces diastolic blood pressure responses to stress. Ann. Behav. Med. 1998, 20, 77–83.
  18. Gauche, R.; Lima, R.M.; Myers, J.; Gadelha, A.B.; Neri, S.G.R.; Forjaz, C.L.M.; Vianna, L.C. Blood pressure reactivity to mental stress is attenuated following resistance exercise in older hypertensive women. Clin. Interv. Aging 2017, 12, 793–802.
  19. Ketelhut, S.; Milatz, F.; Heise, W.; Ketelhut, R.G. Influence of a high-intensity interval training session on peripheral and central blood pressure at rest and during stress testing in healthy individuals. Vasa-Eur. J. Vasc. Med. 2016, 45, 373–377.
  20. Abreu, R.M.; Rehder-Santos, P.; Simões, R.P.; Catai, A.M. Can high-intensity interval training change cardiac autonomic control? A systematic review. Braz. J. Phys. Ther. 2019, 23, 279–289.
  21. Costa, E.C.; Kent, D.E.; Boreskie, K.F.; Hay, J.L.; Kehler, D.S.; Edye-Mazowita, A.; Nugent, K.; Papadopoulos, J.; Stammers, A.N.; Oldfield, C.; et al. Acute Effect of High-Intensity Interval Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on Blood Pressure and Arterial Compliance in Middle-Aged and Older Hypertensive Women With Increased Arterial Stiffness. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2020, 34, 1307–1316.
  22. Iellamo, F.; Caminiti, G.; Sposato, B.; Vitale, C.; Massaro, M.; Rosano, G.; Volterrani, M. Effect of High-Intensity interval training versus moderate continuous training on 24-h blood pressure profile and insulin resistance in patients with chronic heart failure. Intern. Emerg. Med. 2014, 9, 547–552.
  23. Costa, E.C.; Hay, J.L.; Kehler, D.S.; Boreskie, K.F.; Arora, R.C.; Umpierre, D.; Szwajcer, A.; Duhamel, T.A. Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training On Blood Pressure in Adults with Pre- to Established Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Sports Med. 2018, 48, 2127–2142.
  24. Roemmich, J.N.; Lambiase, M.; Salvy, S.J.; Horvath, P.J. Protective effect of interval exercise on psychophysiological stress reactivity in children. Psychophysiology 2009, 46, 852–861.
  25. Aladro-Gonzalvo, A.R.; Araya-Vargas, G.A.; Solera-Herrera, A.; Moncada-Jimenez, J.; Machado-Diaz, M. Exercise protects cardiovascular recovery from stress in a sample of black ethnicity adolescents. Gazz. Med. Ital. Arch. Per Le Sci. Med. 2019, 178, 491–500.
  26. Meireles, K.; Pecanha, T.; Dias, A.R.L.; Souza, K.A.; Araujo, J.A.; Silva, J.S.; Rezende, D.A.N.; Santos, R.J.; Cambri, L.T.; Arsa, G. Acute effects of moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise on hemodynamic and autonomic reactivity to the cold pressor test in young adults with excess body weight. Blood Press. Monit. 2020, 25, 82–88.
  27. Scott, J.M.; Esch, B.T.; Lusina, S.J.; McKenzie, D.C.; Koehle, M.S.; Sheel, A.W.; Warburton, D.E. Post-exercise hypotension and cardiovascular responses to moderate orthostatic stress in endurance-trained males. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2008, 33, 246–253.
  28. Fiuza-Luces, C.; Santos-Lozano, A.; Joyner, M.; Carrera-Bastos, P.; Picazo, O.; Zugaza, J.L.; Izquierdo, M.; Ruilope, L.M.; Lucia, A. Exercise benefits in cardiovascular disease: Beyond attenuation of traditional risk factors. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 2018, 15, 731–743.
  29. Vitale, J.A.; Bonato, M.; La Torre, A.; Banfi, G. Heart Rate Variability in Sport Performance: Do Time of Day and Chronotype Play A Role? J. Clin. Med. 2019, 8, 723.
  30. Grassi, G.; Bombelli, M.; Seravalle, G.; Dell’Oro, R.; Quarti-Trevano, F. Diurnal blood pressure variation and sympathetic activity. Hypertens. Res. 2010, 33, 381–385.
  31. Lambert, E.A.; Chatzivlastou, K.; Schlaich, M.; Lambert, G.; Head, G.A. Morning surge in blood pressure is associated with reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Am. J. Hypertens. 2014, 27, 783–792.
  32. Scheer, F.A.; Hu, K.; Evoniuk, H.; Kelly, E.E.; Malhotra, A.; Hilton, M.F.; Shea, S.A. Impact of the human circadian system, exercise, and their interaction on cardiovascular function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2010, 107, 20541–20546.
More
© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
Nor Farah
,
Chen Joo
,
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin
View Times: 490
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 15 Apr 2022
Table of Contents
    1000/1000
    Hot Most Recent
    Video Production Service
    Feedback