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Regular Physical Exercise (regular + physical_exercise)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences80%

Selected Abstracts

Echocardiographic Parameters in Athlete and Nonathlete Offspring of Hypertensive Parents

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2008
Patrícia Horváth M.D.
Background: According to several reports, some cardiovascular signs of hypertension (left ventricular [LV] hypertrophy, impaired diastolic filling) can be found in the normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents. It is also well known that regular physical exercise decreases the risk of hypertension. Aim: The aim of the present study is to determine whether or not regular physical training influences these early hypertensive traits in the offspring of hypertensive parents. Methods: Echocardiographic data of 215 (144 males, 71 females) 22- to 35-year-old nonathlete and athlete offspring of hypertensive (positive family history, FH+) and normotensive parents (negative family history, FH,) were compared in a cross-sectional design. Results: In the nonathlete FH+ males and females, LV dimensions were not larger than in the FH, subjects. The E/A quotient was lower in the FH+ subjects in both genders. Absolute and heart rate adjusted isovolumetric relaxation times were slightly longer in the FH+ men than in their FH, peers. No differences were seen between athlete FH, and FH+ subjects. Conclusion: Regular physical exercise decreases the incidence of the adverse cardiac signs, which can be associated with hypertension in the normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents. [source]

The Specificity of Self-Efficacy over the Course of a Progressive Exercise Programme

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, Issue 2 2009
Wendy M. Rodgers
Regular physical exercise is an important health-promoting behaviour. Self-efficacy has been demonstrated to be a robust predictor of health behaviour in general and physical activity in particular. Two studies are reported where the change in task self-efficacy, scheduling self-efficacy, and coping self-efficacy for two types of physical activity (walking or traditional fitness activity) was examined over time in a progressive exercise programme. A progressive programme increases in intensity and duration over the course of the study. A sample of 115 people completed a 6-month activity trial where they were assigned to a walking group, a traditional exercise group, or no activity control group. Repeated measures MANOVAs for each type of self-efficacy revealed quadratic patterns of change that were specific to the type of exercise engaged in. The results suggest that self-efficacy is behaviour specific and can be expected to be responsive to overt experiences with specific exercise modalities. Results also suggest that additional support might be necessary as late as 3 months into the programme to maintain levels of exercise consistent with public health guidelines. [source]

Echocardiographic Parameters in Athlete and Nonathlete Offspring of Hypertensive Parents

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2008
Patrícia Horváth M.D.
Background: According to several reports, some cardiovascular signs of hypertension (left ventricular [LV] hypertrophy, impaired diastolic filling) can be found in the normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents. It is also well known that regular physical exercise decreases the risk of hypertension. Aim: The aim of the present study is to determine whether or not regular physical training influences these early hypertensive traits in the offspring of hypertensive parents. Methods: Echocardiographic data of 215 (144 males, 71 females) 22- to 35-year-old nonathlete and athlete offspring of hypertensive (positive family history, FH+) and normotensive parents (negative family history, FH,) were compared in a cross-sectional design. Results: In the nonathlete FH+ males and females, LV dimensions were not larger than in the FH, subjects. The E/A quotient was lower in the FH+ subjects in both genders. Absolute and heart rate adjusted isovolumetric relaxation times were slightly longer in the FH+ men than in their FH, peers. No differences were seen between athlete FH, and FH+ subjects. Conclusion: Regular physical exercise decreases the incidence of the adverse cardiac signs, which can be associated with hypertension in the normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents. [source]

Assessment of risk of venous thromboembolism and its possible prevention in psychiatric patients

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 1 2008
Radovan Malý md
Aims:, The aim of the present study was to compile a specific algorithm of prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized psychiatric patients because this specific issue has not been addressed sufficiently in the literature. Methods:, The computer database MEDLINE was searched using key words (schizophrenia OR depression OR bipolar) AND (antipsychotic OR antidepressant) AND (venous thromboembolism OR pulmonary embolism) AND (prevention OR prophylaxis) in 2006. Results:, Based on the literature regarding non-surgical and surgical patients with respect to specificities in mental disorders (obesity induced with psychotropic drugs, possible catatonia, physical restraint, potential dehydration, antipsychotic treatment), a scoring system and a synoptic algorithm of prevention of venous thromboembolism modified for hospitalized psychiatric patients, were suggested. Conclusions:, According to the authors' knowledge this is the first attempt to establish such guidelines exclusively in psychiatry. Individual preventative clinical measures are suggested, ranging from regular physical exercise of lower extremities to repeated parenteral application of high doses of heparin tailored to every patient's risk for venous thromboembolism. Economic data support implementation of a proposed decision procedure into psychiatric clinical practice. Prospective discussion of its international applicability would be beneficial from both the clinical and the scientific points of view. [source]

Are there common triggers of preterm deliveries?

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
E. Petridou
Objective To assess the effect(s) of transient events which are perceived as stressful on the inseption of preterm delivery. Design A case,control study, with immature infants as cases and borderline term babies as controls. Setting A teaching maternity hospital in Athens. Population All infants born at less than 37 weeks of gestation, during a twelve-month period. Methods Information was collected about maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, clinical variables and stressful events occurring within two weeks prior to delivery. Main outcome measures Factors affecting the risk of preterm delivery. Results Extreme prematurity (<33 weeks) is more common among younger (<25 years of age) and older (>29 years of age) women and is positively associated with parity, body mass index and smoking, whereas it is inversely associated with educational level, regular physical exercise and serious nausea/vomiting. After controlling for these factors, however, only coitus during the last weeks of pregnancy had a significant triggering effect on prematurity (P= 0.004, odds ratio 3.21, 95% CI 1.45 to 7.09 for very immature babies, and P= 0.04, OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.70 for immature babies). On the contrary, several events perceived as stressful, such as illness of relatives or friends, husband's departure, loss of employment, were unrelated to the onset of premature labour. Conclusions Coitus during the last few weeks of pregnancy appears to increase the risk of preterm delivery, while a possible detrimental effect of physical exertion seems more limited. Stressful events should not receive undue attention as possible causes of preterm delivery. [source]