Is The Exercise-Induced Increase in Central Arterial Stiffness a Risk Factor for Health?

Abstract

Central arterial stiffness (CAS) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. If in one side, exercise training can reduce CAS and protect health; on the other side, CAS might be increased in individuals with very strenuous training routines. This chronic increase in CAS is observed acutely, right after a strenuous exercise session. Both chronic and acute increases in CAS are associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as left ventricle hypertrophy, reduction in baroreceptor sensitivity, increased aneurism formation and stroke incidence; besides, they contribute to hypertension, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, dementia and atherosclerosis. However, there are many reasons to believe that trained individuals are protected by other training adaptations and that increased CAS would not be too dangerous in these cases. Nevertheless, even when CAS is increased through exercise training, other harmful adaptations (e g, left ventricle hypertrophy) are aroused together. After debating these questions along the text, it was concluded that individuals should make a complete clinical check-up when decided to face strenuous training routines. A new debate is suggested: personalized exercise programs might be prescribed according to individual cardiovascular risks including CAS and the guidelines for exercise prescriptions proposed by health organizations need to attend these special cases.