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Study examines exercise recovery factors
Research showed that antihistamines lower blood pressure, prevents fainting after physical activity
by Eric Florip | News Editor
Gary Klug, head of the human physiology department, said Halliwill's studies are important to the department's focus on research with practical application.
"Everyone in our department is working on that interface between basic science and clinical medicine," Klug said. "I think John's research definitely does that."
For the initial exercise portion of the study, Halliwill asked 28 subjects to ride a stationary bike for one hour at a moderate pace.
"It's hard enough that you know you're exercising, but it's not so hard you can't carry on a conversation," he said.
Halliwill and his researchers monitored subjects' blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow during the exercise and during a 90-minute recovery period while they lay on a bed.
The experiment also used two separate groups of different athletic ability, Halliwill said. One was composed of well-trained runners and cyclists, and the other was made up of more modest athletes who said they exercise less than 30 minutes per week.
Halliwill said the drop in blood pressure was very similar between the two groups, but the decrease was more substantial in people with dangerously high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Jennifer McCord, a human physiology graduate student who assisted in the study, said the research still has potential to lead to a lot more.
"Now that we've been able to block the decrease in blood pressure, we're going in a clinical direction," she said.
McCord said the study could help prevent people from passing out after exercise or help people who may benefit from a drop in blood pressure.
"We're also still looking at the anti-hypertension aspect," McCord said.
Halliwill said there is more work to be done with the body's basic response to exercise without the use of antihistamines.
"When we see something physiologically that is activated in every single person that we study again and again, it suggests to us that maybe it's serving some purpose," he said. "There may be some benefit to that response."
The benefits of decreasing blood pressure and blood flow directed to working muscles, Halliwill said, may include developing blood vessels and adapting to exercise more intensely and for longer periods of time.
He also said antihistamines could have greater practical use by limiting changes in blood pressure.
"That's one of the topics we're currently exploring," Halliwill said.
Contact the business, science and technology reporter at eflorip@dailyemerald.com
"Everyone in our department is working on that interface between basic science and clinical medicine," Klug said. "I think John's research definitely does that."
For the initial exercise portion of the study, Halliwill asked 28 subjects to ride a stationary bike for one hour at a moderate pace.
"It's hard enough that you know you're exercising, but it's not so hard you can't carry on a conversation," he said.
Halliwill and his researchers monitored subjects' blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow during the exercise and during a 90-minute recovery period while they lay on a bed.
The experiment also used two separate groups of different athletic ability, Halliwill said. One was composed of well-trained runners and cyclists, and the other was made up of more modest athletes who said they exercise less than 30 minutes per week.
Halliwill said the drop in blood pressure was very similar between the two groups, but the decrease was more substantial in people with dangerously high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Jennifer McCord, a human physiology graduate student who assisted in the study, said the research still has potential to lead to a lot more.
"Now that we've been able to block the decrease in blood pressure, we're going in a clinical direction," she said.
McCord said the study could help prevent people from passing out after exercise or help people who may benefit from a drop in blood pressure.
"We're also still looking at the anti-hypertension aspect," McCord said.
Halliwill said there is more work to be done with the body's basic response to exercise without the use of antihistamines.
"When we see something physiologically that is activated in every single person that we study again and again, it suggests to us that maybe it's serving some purpose," he said. "There may be some benefit to that response."
The benefits of decreasing blood pressure and blood flow directed to working muscles, Halliwill said, may include developing blood vessels and adapting to exercise more intensely and for longer periods of time.
He also said antihistamines could have greater practical use by limiting changes in blood pressure.
"That's one of the topics we're currently exploring," Halliwill said.
Contact the business, science and technology reporter at eflorip@dailyemerald.com
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