Effects of Regular Exercise on Blood Pressure and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in African-American Men with Severe Hypertension

Abstract

Regular exercise reduced blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in African-American men with severe hypertension.

Physical activity decreases the risk of stroke in middle-age men with left ventricular hypertrophy: 40-year follow-up (1961–2001) of the Seven Countries Study (the Corfu cohort)

“…6 From September to October 1961, an international team of doctors, nurses and technicians examined 529 men from Corfu Island. This cohort was made up of almost all the men who lived in the above area (95.3%) and were 40-59 years old in the early fall of 1961.…”

“…The causes of death were obtained from the previous clinical records filled out by the study's research group, or by hospital records, or by necroscopy records (when it was available), or by information from family or hospital doctors, other specialists, family or relatives, friends and any other witnesses. 6 Information from the police, in case of violent causes or death occurred suddenly in public places or un-witnessed, was also obtained. 6 In July 2001, collection of data on vital status and causes of death was complete for 40 years and no subject was lost to follow-up.…”

“…6 Information from the police, in case of violent causes or death occurred suddenly in public places or un-witnessed, was also obtained. 6 In July 2001, collection of data on vital status and causes of death was complete for 40 years and no subject was lost to follow-up. A single reviewer following defined criteria, employing the eighth Revision of the WHO-ICD, determined the causes of death.…”

“…1,2 This protection may be due to the favourable effects of exercise on several risk factors associated with the risk of stroke, 2 including reduction in left ventricular mass of hypertensive patients. 6 Recently, a case-control study 5 reported that physical activity decreases the risk of stroke in patients with increased left ventricular mass to a level comparable to that of patients without increased left ventricular mass. However, the findings could not provide evidences for causality.…”

“…The Seven Countries Study 6 has become a classic in science for its pioneering effort in cardiovascular disease epidemiology. The study was started in the late 1950 s by Ancel Keys and his colleagues.…”