Effects of acute and chronic exercise on autonomic cardiovascular control and endothelial function in young and older healthy male subjects

Abstract

Exercise training is known to reduce resting blood pressure ; however, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of exercise in two parameters known to be dysfunctional when resting blood pressure is elevated ; the sympathetic nervous system and endothelial function. To achieve this, tests of sympathetic activation and markers of endothelial function were measured in response to acute exercise, short-term training and long-term training in young and older subjects.