- A new study has found that an elevated heart rate can cause a stroke in people with carotid artery stenosis (a blocked artery).
- For people with unblocked or minimally blocked arteries, exercise helps maintain healthy blood flow.
- Further research is needed to understand the relationship between increased heart rate and adverse effects for people with moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis.
- Light exercise such as walking, yoga, and balance training is recommended for people with moderate or higher stenosis levels.
Exercise is generally thought to be good for your health, but elevated heart rates can be detrimental to people with certain health conditions.
According to a new study published in fluid physics An increased heart rate can cause a stroke in people with carotid artery stenosis, a condition in which arteries are narrowed or blocked.
Although this finding is alarming, the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis remains low and has implications.
Regular exercise supports healthy blood flow and is recommended by doctors for heart disease prevention in people with mild, moderate, or no arterial blockages.
For this study, the researchers analyzed the effects of heart rate during exercise and resting heart rate.
They used a computational model to stimulate carotid blood flow at the next stage of stenosis.
- without blockage
- Mild 30% blockage
- Moderate 50% cutoff
The results of this study show that for people with moderate blockages, exercise increases stress in the blocked area of the artery, which can lead to rupture of the stenosis.
If this disorder reaches the brain, it can cause an ischemic stroke.
However, exercise was beneficial in stimulating the carotid arteries for those without obstruction and those with mild obstruction.
Research author Dr. Somnath RoyAn associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, PhD, told Healthline that exercise is commonly recommended to prevent cardiovascular disease.
“Existing literature indicates that increased pulse rate from exercise improves stress levels in arterial walls and prevents the formation of stenotic occlusions,” Roy said.
“Through numerical prediction, we observed similar features for healthy arteries.”
However, for arterial models with pre-existing stenosis or advanced stenosis, Roy explained that the vibration level of the WSS (known as the oscillatory shear index) is high.
Higher levels of these vibrations may increase the risk of further development of strictures along with very high shear stresses.
If the levels are significantly higher, the stenotic plaque can begin to break down and form a thrombus or embolism (a blockage of an artery by a foreign object), which can travel to the brain and block small blood vessels, causing a stroke. There is a nature.
“The authors report the hemodynamic effects of increased heart rate.[how blood flows] Diagnose healthy versus stenosed carotid arteries by deploying computational simulations based on physiologically relevant data.that is no clinical research Dr. Joseph C. MaroonClinical Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, Vice President, Heindl Scholar of Neuroscience.
“The observations are interesting. They suggest that 50% or more stenotic lesions are present. in May It increases the risk of blood flow obstruction, which can lead to stroke and heart attack,” Maroon added.
Future studies by the research team will explore the effects of high heart rate in other arterial models, such as coronary arteries and aorta, Roy said.
In addition, we plan to investigate the effects of changes in blood viscosity on flow characteristics and stress levels. Blood viscosity can be altered by diseases such as anemia, leukemia, and sepsis.
They are also investigating the effects of exercise on people who have undergone heart valve replacement.
As observed in this study, strenuous exercise may adversely affect patients with moderate or higher stenosis levels.
“Flow does not decrease until the artery is 90% or more stenotic, but the shear and flow obstruction caused by 50% stenosis of the artery destroys the inner lining of the artery (the intima) and precipitates the arterial intima. clotting and blockage occur despite normal blood flow,” Maroon said.
“This is an important observation that needs further research to confirm.”
To further understand the relationship between exercise and constriction, it is also important to note potential differences between human heart rate and computer models.
“Significant variations in human heart rate (compared to computer models) can occur during different impact training, sports, and isometric exercises,” he said. Sandra NarayananBoard Certified Neurovascular Physician and Neurointervention Surgeon at the Pacific Stroke and Neurovascular Center at the Pacific Institute of Neuroscience, Santa Monica, CA.
“Further studies will be needed to understand the relationship between the duration of sustained elevated heart rate and its adverse effects on cerebrovascular risk in patients with moderate to severe carotid stenosis.
Narayanan also explained that it can help identify whether certain activities pose more lifestyle risks, or whether the risks stem from tachycardia and are unrelated to the cause.
The study authors suggested a carefully prescribed exercise regimen for people with moderate to severe stenosis or a history of stroke.
Roy warned that an increase in heart rate from exercise could have fatal consequences for people with severe stenosis.
He added that arterial occlusion may be underreported among athletes and performers until high heart rate situations occur, and its effects could be detrimental.
Regular check-ups and choosing a light exercise pattern will be important for these people, Roy said.
“For healthy people, exercise is good for preventing arterial degeneration,” says Roy. “Light exercise and a modest increase in heart rate may also be good for people with moderate stenosis.”
Low-impact exercises include activities such as walking, yoga, and Tai Chi.
“Walk at a normal pace of increasing distance, walk on an elliptical or stationary bike at a comfortable pace that doesn’t leave you out of breath, and wear a stretch and flexibility band,” suggests Maroon. bottom.
“Also, balance training helps prevent falls.”
A high heart rate can trigger a stroke in patients with severe carotid artery occlusion, according to a new study.
Still, the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis is relatively low in the general population. In people with no or minimal obstruction, exercise maintains healthy blood flow.
Regular exercise is still the best preventative measure against heart disease for most people.
Further studies are needed to understand the relationship between exercise-induced heart rate and stenosis.
Experts recommend walking, yoga, and balance training for patients with moderate or higher stenosis levels.
