The relationships between age, sex, and exercise intensity on cerebral artery hemodynamics during isometric handgrip exercise.

Age and sex may alter the cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to acute isometric exercise, via associated elevations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and sympathetic activation. Our aim was to determine the relationships between age, sex, and exercise intensity on cerebrovascular responses to isometric handgrip exercise. In 78 healthy adults (18-80 yr, = 42 females), cerebrovascular responses were assessed during 2-min isometric exercise bouts at three intensities [15, 30, 45% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)].

Sex modifies the relationship between age and neurovascular coupling in healthy adults.

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the matching between local neuronal activity and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), but little is known about the effects of age and sex on NVC. This study aimed to investigate the relationships and interaction between age and sex on NVC. Sixty-four healthy adults (18-85 years, N = 34 female) completed a visual stimulus evoked NVC assessment to a flashing checkerboard.

Comparison of peripheral and cerebral vascular function between premenopausal, early and late postmenopausal females.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? We sought to investigate whether peripheral and cerebrovascular function are impaired in early and late postmenopausal females compared with premenopausal females, while also accounting for nitric oxide and estradiol levels. What is the main finding and its importance? We observed no differences in peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular function between healthy and physically active premenopausal females and early and late postmenopausal females. Our findings contradict previous cross-sectional observations of vascular and cerebrovascular dysfunction across menopause.

The relationships between age, sex, and cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia using traditional and kinetic-based analyses in healthy adults.

The effect of age and sex on intracranial and extracranial cerebrovascular function is poorly understood. We investigated the relationships between age, sex, and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to hypercapnia in 73 healthy adults (18-80 yr, = 39 female). CVR to hypercapnia was assessed in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and at the internal carotid artery (ICA) using duplex ultrasound.

Effect of menopause on cerebral artery blood flow velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Menopause and its associated decline in oestrogen is linked to chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, which may be difficult to disentangle from the effects of ageing. Further, post-menopausal women are at increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, linked to declines in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), yet the direct understanding of the impact of the menopause on cerebrovascular function is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the literature investigating CBF and CVR in pre- compared with post-menopausal women METHODS: Five databases were searched for studies assessing CBF or CVR in pre- and post-menopausal women.

Effects of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise training on cerebrovascular blood flow and reactivity: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

We address two aims: (Fitness Review) compares the effect of higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (e.g., endurance athletes) with lower CRF (e.

The effect of heat therapy on blood pressure and peripheral vascular function: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

New Findings: What is the topic of this review? We have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the current evidence for the effect of heat therapy on blood pressure and vascular function. What advances does it highlight? We found that heat therapy reduced mean arterial, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We also observed that heat therapy improved vascular function, as assessed via brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation.

Skin tattooing impairs sweating during passive whole body heating.

Tattooing of the skin involves repeated needle insertions to deposit ink into the dermal layer of the skin, potentially damaging eccrine sweat glands and the cutaneous vasculature. This study tested the hypothesis that reflex increases in sweat rate (SR) and cutaneous vasodilation are blunted in tattooed skin (TAT) compared with adjacent healthy skin (CON) during a passive whole body heat stress (WBH). Ten individuals (5 males and 5 females) with a sufficient area of tattooed skin participated in the study.

Tolerance to Central Hypovolemia Is Greater Following Caffeinated Coffee Consumption in Habituated Users.

We investigated the influence of caffeinated coffee consumption on cardiovascular responses and tolerance to central hypovolemia in individuals habituated to caffeine. Thirteen participants completed three trials, consuming caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee or water before exposure to central hypovolemia via lower body negative pressure (LBNP) to pre syncope. Tolerance to central hypovolemia was quantified as cumulative stress index (CSI: LBNP level multiplied by time; mmHg × min).

High-intensity interval exercise reduces tolerance to a simulated haemorrhagic challenge in heat-stressed individuals.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? In heat-stressed individuals, does high-intensity interval exercise reduce tolerance to a simulated haemorrhagic challenge (lower body negative pressure, LBNP) relative to steady state exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? LBNP tolerance was lower in heat-stressed individuals following high-intensity interval exercise relative to steady state exercise. This was likely owing to the greater cardiovascular strain required to maintain arterial blood pressure prior to and early during LBNP following high-intensity interval exercise. These findings are of importance for individuals working in occupations in which combined heat stress and intense intermittent exercise are common and where the risk of haemorrhagic injury is increased.

Small reductions in skin temperature after onset of a simulated hemorrhagic challenge improve tolerance in exercise heat-stressed individuals.

We investigated whether small reductions in skin temperature 60 s after the onset of a simulated hemorrhagic challenge would improve tolerance to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) after exercise heat stress. Eleven healthy subjects completed two trials (High and Reduced). Subjects cycled at ~55% maximal oxygen uptake wearing a warm water-perfused suit until core temperatures increased by ~1.