Arterial hypertension and cardiovascular risk score in people in their middle and late adulthood during sports and physical training

• Vyalova Marina O.
• Shvarts Yuriy G.

Abstract

Arterial hypertension (AH) is known as one of the major modifiable risk factors (RF) for main cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Ability to control this risk factor allows influencing cardiovascular and overall mortality rate. Despite preventive measures, the AH incidence in Russia and worldwide remains high.

Currently AH occurs among people of different ages involved in sports. An acute increase in blood pressure (BP) during intense physical exertion can cause rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, resulting in myocardial ischemia or impaired cerebral circulation. Changes in BP in response to stress, including physical one, can be both a predictor of AH development and a marker of a latent disease. Therefore, the timely identification of people suffering from AH (including athletes in their middle and late adulthood) is of utmost importance when screening for early detection of CVDs in order to ensure a healthier lifestyle, proper BP management and adequate prevention of CVDs.

This research studies if sport is a risk factor for AH or rather a preventive measure of the same. The researchers analyze prevalence of risk factors for CVDs among elderly athletes. They also dwell upon identifying proper criteria for the differential diagnosis of sports heart and hypertensive heart. They also make attempts to analyze BP and AH incidence in athletes of different age, as well as to study the relationship between increased BP and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Keywords: arterial hypertension, veteran athletes, cardiovascular risk, physical exertion

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