Abstract:

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The beneficial effect of regular exercise on physical fitness is well documented. However there is also evidence that acute and chronic exercise affect platelet activation in different ways. Few studies are available on effect of exercise on platelets function. Therefore, present work has been undertaken to study the effect of acute heavy (severe) and regular moderate exercise on platelet aggregation, heart rate and blood pressure in normal healthy untrained subjects.

METHODS: Sample:60 healthy volunteers (30 males and 30 females) of age between 18 & 21 years. Exercise schedule was as follows, Acute heavy exercise(AHE):running on 400 meters track as fast as possible and as long as possible (minimum 4 rounds). Regular moderate exercise(RME):running on 400 meters track with moderate speed so as to complete one round in 3 minutes. Two rounds per day for 3 months. Blood samples were collected and heart rate (HR)& blood pressure(BP) were recorded at rest, immediately after completion of AHE & RME. Platelet aggregability was estimated by O’Brien J. R. method using ADP.

RESULTS: Very significant (P<0.0001)increase in platelet aggregability, HR and systolic BP were observed after AHE. After RME platelet aggregability was very significantly(P<0.0001) decreased while HR and SBP were significantly increased. HR and SBP showed significantly lesser increase after RME compared with AHE. Diastolic BP didn’t show any significant change after either type of exercise. All results were same in both sexes.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Regular moderate exercise decreases platelet aggregability and lowers the rise in HR and SBP after exercise, showing protective function in coronary artery disease. Whereas acute heavy exercise increases platelet aggregability and shows higher rise in HR and SBP after exercise. Exercise should be cautiously advised in coronary artery diseases.

Keywords: Acute heavy (severe)exercise, Diastolic blood pressure, Heart rate, Platelet aggregability, Regular moderate exercise, Systolic blood pressure

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