Effect of acute exercise on Cardiovascular and Serum cortisol reactivity to mental stress in offspring of hypertensives

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of acute exercise on HR, BP and serum cortisol levels in offspring of hypertensives. This could serve as a preventive measure to habituate the high risk population group right at the early age. Material and Methods: The study was a double blind single centered randomized controlled prospective study conducted in the Department of Physiology & Biochemistry, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated hospitals, New Delhi over a period of 1 year. 30 subjects were recruited for the study. They were labelled as:- Group 1 –the subjects were rested for 10 minutes after which the measurement of BP, HR and Serum cortisol was done. This resting value was labeled as R-1 . The subjects were then exposed to mental arithmetic test (MAT) for 5 minutes. Thereafter their BP, HR and Serum Cortisol were measured again and labeled as T-1 . Group 2 –Same subjects were similarly rested for 10 minutes after which the measurement of BP, HR and S. cortisol was done. This resting value was labeled as R-2 . This was followed by 20 minutes of Bicycle ergometry exercise. The subjects were then exposed to MAT for 5 minutes. Thereafter their BP, HR and Serum cortisol were measured again and labeled as T-2 . We then compared (T2–R2) known as Cardio-Adrenal Reactivity (CAR) with exercise vs CAR without exercise (T1-R1). 2ml of blood sample was withdrawn for estimation S. cortisol. Paired t-test was applied for comparison (p value <0.05–significant). Results: The CAR was more in Group 1 compared to Group 2, difference being statistically significant. Conclusion: Study showed statistically significant change between with and without exercise groups. Acute exercise can reduce the adrenocortical reactivity to stress, a preventive tool for development of future hypertension.