The Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
Online ISSN : 2186-8123
Print ISSN : 2186-8131
ISSN-L : 2186-8131
Short Review Article
Cardiovascular responses of blood pressure hyperreactors to the cold pressor test and exercise
Hirotoshi Ifuku
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2015 Volume 4 Issue 4 Pages 331-335

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Abstract

The cold pressor test has been used to assess neural control of the cardiovascular system by observing the pressor response during the immersion of one hand in cold water. Previous studies have defined blood pressure hyperreactors to cold stress as individuals who respond with a rise of 15 mmHg or greater in their systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure and who have a higher incidence of hypertension than normal reactors. In this review, the regulatory mechanism of the cardiovascular system during the cold pressor test, and the cardiovascular responses of hyperreactors to both the cold pressor test and an isometric handgrip exercise are described. During the late phase of cold-water immersion for 2 min, the arterial baroreflex resets the heart rate to the control level, but not the peripheral resistance. Although both isometric exercise and the cold pressor test increased blood pressure by the same magnitude, baroreflex resetting of the heart rate was seen during the cold pressor test, but not during the isometric handgrip exercise. Hyperreactors showed larger cardiovascular responses to the cold pressor test than normal reactors, but not to the handgrip exercise. The pain sensation could contribute to greater increases in blood pressure in hyperreactors during cold-water immersion. The incidence of hyperreactors was higher in the middle-aged and elderly (66.7%) than in young adults (27.5%). The pulse pressure of hyperreactors during cold stress was decreased in young adults, but increased in middle-aged and elderly subjects. The onset mechanism of hypertension in hyperreactors remains to be clarified.

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© 2015 The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
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