Physical activity is not always healthy for the heart

Regular physical activity is recommended to stay in shape. The higher the level of physical activity, the more it affects cardiovascular health. Due to the abundance of evidence linking physical activity levels to health, the American Heart Association (AHA) prescribes physical activity as one of 7 goals for ideal cardiovascular health. But are all kinds of physical activities equal? , Does our body derive the same benefits from sports, walking and carrying heavy loads? A study conducted by Jean-Philippe Empana, researcher at Inserm, in collaboration with an Australian team, shows significant differences in the protective effects of different physical activities. The study was published November 4 in the journal Hypertension.

Sports activity versus physical activity at work

Physical activity as we understand it is a broad concept, and few studies have explored the effects of different types of exercise on cardiovascular health. This was the line of work of researchers led by Jean-Philippe Empana, Xavier Jouven, Pierre Boutouyrie and Rachel Climie from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne (Australia). Jean-Philippe Empana’s research aimed to determine whether all forms of physical activity were beneficial or whether they could be harmful in certain specific circumstances, such as the regular carrying of heavy loads, for example.

With his colleagues, he observed the participants in theProspective study III of Paris, which has been tracking the health of more than 10,000 volunteers between the ages of 50 and 75 for more than a decade. The participants, recruited during a health check-up at the Paris clinic, completed questionnaires on their level of physical activity when playing sports, physical activity at work and physical activity during their leisure time. Their cardiovascular health was studied by examining their arteries using advanced ultrasound imaging of the carotid artery. This method, known as echo tracking, is used to measure baroreflex sensitivity, or automatic adaptation to sudden changes in blood pressure. People whose baroreflex is affected for whatever reason tend to suffer from major health complications and are at higher risk of cardiac arrest.

Regularly carrying heavy loads can be harmful

The researchers studied two aspects of the baroreflex: the first is mechanical and measures arterial stiffness, while the second, neural, measures nerve impulses sent by receptors on arterial walls in response to vessel distension. Abnormalities of the mechanical component are associated with age-related cardiovascular disease, while abnormalities of the neural component are associated with cardiac arrhythmias, which can precipitate cardiac arrest.

According to the study, high-impact sports lead to better neural baroreflex, while strenuous physical activity at work, such as regular heavy lifting, is linked to abnormal neural baroreflex as well as increased arterial stiffness. This suggests that activities involving regular heavy lifting are harmful to cardiovascular health and may cause heart rhythm disturbances. Jean-Philippe Empana explains that the research does not suggest that being active at work is harmful, but that chronic intense activity is. The team believes this research may have important implications for public health and that the next step is to further investigate the link between physical activity and health.