Prof. S. Greenwald
It is now well established there are strong independent associations between increased arterial stiffness or pulse pressure and increased morbidity, and mortality from cardiovascular disease. These correlations, together with recent technical innovations, account for the rapidly increasing number of studies involving pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements as a means of assessing arterial stiffness, both as a diagnostic tool and as a prognostic indicator, not only in patients with established cardiovascular disease but in healthy populations as well. Heart rate as well is a predictor of CV disease and both low heart rate and low blood pressure confer a protective effect in normal individuals.
Athletes tend to have a low heart rate and blood pressure but little is known about vascular stiffness in this group.
The purpose of the study, which is a continuation of a pilot project carried out last year, is to gather baseline arterial stiffness data by measuring PWV in elite athletes, to see how stiffness changes following exercise and to compare the results with age matched controls of normal athletic ability. In the longer term we hope to determine if strenuous exercise in early adulthood leads to reduced arterial stiffness (as well as low BP) and to see if the extreme levels of training imposed on elite athletes lead to long term cardiovascular benefits.
2 students. (1 from Sports & Exercise Medicine).