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A cross-sectional analysis of blood pressure (BP) changes and the current prevalence and distribution of hypertension among age groups in Korea were conducted. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and pulse (PP) pressures were evaluated. Residents visiting a local Community Health Center for a health check-up and/or participating in the Health Promotion Program were included for the analyses. A total of 6,570 subjects (2,809 men, 3,761 women) were divided into five age groups: 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70≤ years. Comparisons were made between sex and among age groups. SBP and DBP were continuously elevated, while men showed higher levels than women until their mid-60s; then, the trend was reversed. DBP in men became elevated from their 30s, reaching the highest in the 40s then slowly decreasing. DBP in women increased up to their 40s and 50s, then reached a plateau. PP increased rapidly from the 50s in both sexes. The major contributor of age-related BP elevation may be large artery stiffness in men, particularly from their 50s, while the blood pressure elevation of women may relate to diverse factors including large artery stiffness, stroke volume, and ventricular ejection rate. The rapid elevation of PP after the 50s in both men and women could represent a risk of cardiovascular or coronary mortality, particularly with increasing age. The current data showed a higher rate of hypertension in both sexes compared to previous reports. When those with both high-normal BP and hypertension are looked at in combination, BP management of the target population should be drastically elevated.

Background:A conventional treadmill provides manually controlled constant speed during exercise. A fast interactive automatic speed control treadmill (FAST), which is highly sensitive to the position of the user on the belt and spontaneously adjusts its speed accordingly, was evaluated in terms of energy expenditure (EE) during exercise. Methods: A total of 43 subjects were recruited and assigned to one of three exercise intensity groups-low (LIG; 40-50% of VO2max), moderate (MIG; 55-65% of VO2max), and high (HIG; 70-80% of VO2max). During the first test (Test-1), each subject performed an exercise bout on the FAST while spontaneously changing their locomotion speed within their assigned range of intensity. The average speed in Test-1 was calculated and applied to the second test (Test-2), in which the subjects exercised at a constant belt speed and matched the total travel distance of Test-1. During the tests, the oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory quotient (RQ), oxygen pulse (OP), and EE of each subject were measured. Results: The average VO2 in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (22.95±2.55 vs. 21.72±2.90 ml/kg/min) and MIG (31.17±3.75 vs. 29.73±4.86 mL/kg/min) (P<.05) subjects. The EE in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (7.09±1.67 vs. 6.71±1.73 kcal/min) and MIG (9.79±2.62 vs. 9.32±2.71 kcal/min) (P<.05) subjects. The HR, RQ, and OP in the LIG and the MIG were similar. There was no difference between Test-1 and Test-2 in any of the metabolic parameters for the HIG subjects. Conclusions:The results indicated that, low-to moderate-intensity treadmill exercise at varying speeds required higher energy expenditure than that at a constant speed. Thus, a treadmill with a spontaneous speed variation function may be an effective exercise modality that increases energy expenditure. Korean J Health Promot 2015;15(1):1-8

This study was designed to examine the aerobic capacity and ventilatory response during an incremental exercise in elite high school cyclists. Twelve boys (17±1 yr, 175±5 cm, 70±9 kg) participated in anthropometric measurements, incremental exercise testing, and pulmonary function tests. During incremental exercise testing using a cycle ergometer, their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal power output, ventilation, ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (VE/VO2) and carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2), respiratory rate, and tidal volume were measured. Time variables such as inspiratory time (Ti), expiratory time (Te), breathing time (Tb), and inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Tb), as well as inspiratory flow rate (VT/Ti) were assessed. Pulmonary function of vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow were evaluated. Their VO2max, maximal heart rate, and Wmax were 57.5±3.9 ml·kg , and 452 W, respectively. VO2max was not related to any anthropometric parameters. Most ventilatory variables progressively increased with exercise intensity. As intensity increased, Ti, Tb, Tb decreased while Ti/Tb was maintained. Below an intensity of 250 W, height, weight, body mass index, and body surface were highly correlated with VT/Ti and Ti/Tb (p<0.05). Collectively, VO2max appeared to be lower than adult cyclists, suggesting a different pattern of ventilatory control as age advances. Morphological characteristics were not related to VO2max in the population. Time variables of ventilatory response seemed to be related only at an exercise intensity level of less than 250 W. VT/Ti may be related to exercise endurance capacity, but Ti/Tb was similar to adult cyclists.