Nonpharmacological strategies against hypertension: Effect of resistance training and acclimation on cardioprotection

Original article - e245621 - Published 2025, Jun 6

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33233/rbfex.v24i1.5621

Keywords:

hypertension, resistance training, heat acclimation, cardioprotection, health

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension (HT) is the main risk factor for myocardial infarction. Together, these events are the main causes of death worldwide. The conventional treatment is pharmacological. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as resistance training (RT) and heat acclimation (HA), may affect reducing cardiovascular risk. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of RT and HA on ventricular function, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and cardioprotection of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: The experimental procedures were authorized under registration number 14/2022 (CEUA/ICBS/UFRRJ). SHR were divided into a control group (CTR, n = 7), a group trained 3x/week/10 weeks (TG, n = 8), and a group acclimated in a heated bath for 11 consecutive days (HWI, n = 9). SBP was assessed by tail plethysmography. Left ventricular function (LVF) was evaluated by the isolated heart method. Cardioprotection assessment was based on LVF in the 60 min after global ischemia (IQ = 30 min) and on the analysis of the infarct area. Results: After the trials, only CTR showed higher SBP (p < 0.01). Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was better during reperfusion in the HWI groups compared to CTR (p < 0.05) and TG (p < 0.05). The infarct area after IQ was smaller only in HWI (p < 0.05). Conclusion: TG and HWI demonstrated an effect on maintaining and reducing SBP in the experimental groups, but only HWI was effective in promoting cardioprotection.

Author Biographies

Jéssica da Silva Santos, UFRRJ

Curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Ronaldo André Castelo dos Santos de Almeida, UFRRJ

Doutorando do Programa de Pós Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas da Sociedade Brasileira de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

Letícia de Sousa Amorim, UFRRJ

Curso de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Emerson Lopes Olivares, UFRRJ

Professor titular do Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Anderson Luiz Bezerra da Silveira, UFRRJ

Professor adjunto do Departamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

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Published

2025-06-06