Beta blockade and thermoregulation during exercise in post menopausal women

Abstract

Beta blockers have been available for approximately 30 years, and are used for the treatment of angina pectoris, dysrhythmias, and most commonly, hypertension (Kostis & DeFelice, 1984). Ten to 15% of Canadians have controlled or uncontrolled high blood pressure, including 25% of persons 65 and over. Approximately 60% of physician/patient contacts for high blood pressure involve women. Regular exercise has been suggested as a favourable lifestyle change for those with hypertension and can also improve thermoregulation during acute exercise in the heat. While other drugs are now available for the treatment of hypertension (as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers) beta blockers are well proven and still remain the primary drugs in the treatment of patients with elevated blood pressure. In light of the use of these drugs for the control of such problems, and the research suggesting that they may have a negative effect on thermoregulation, it is unfortunate that older womenhave been practically excluded from the research concerning exercise and heat stress. In this study, we examined the effects of beta blockade on thermoregulation in post-menopausal women during a cycle bout in the heat. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)