Water intake accelerates parasympathetic reactivation after high-intensity exercise.

UNLABELLED: It has been shown that water intake (WI) improves postexercise parasympathetic recovery after moderate-intensity exercise session. However, the potential cardiovascular benefit promoted by WI has not been investigated after high-intensity exercise. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of WI on post high-intensity parasympathetic recovery. METHODS: Twelve recreationally active young men participated in the study (22 ± 1.4 years, 24.1 ± 1.6 kg.m(-2)). The experimental protocol consisted of two visits to the laboratory. Each visit consisted in the completion of a 30-min high-intensity [~80% of maximal heart rate (HR)] cycle ergometer aerobic session performing randomly the WI or control (CON, no water consumption) intervention at the end of the exercise. HR and RR intervals (RRi) were continuously recorded by a heart rate monitor before, during and after the exercise. Differences in HR recovery [e.g., absolute heart rate decrement after 1 min of recovery (HRR60s) and time-constant of the first order exponential fitting curve of the HRR (HRRτ)] and in postexercise vagal-related heart rate variability (HRV) indexes (rMSSD30s, rMSSD, pNN50, SD1 and HF) were calculated and compared for WI and CON. RESULTS: A similar HR recovery and an increased postexercise HRV [SD1 = 9.4 ± 5.9 vs. 6.0 ± 3.9 millisecond, HF(ln) = 3.6 ± 1.4 vs. 2.4 ± 1.3 millisecond(2), for WI and CON, respectively; p < .05] was observed in WI compared with CON. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that WI accelerates the postexercise parasympathetic reactivation after high-intensity exercise. Such outcome reveals an important cardioprotective effect of WI.

Effect of water intake on postexercise cardiovascular recovery / Efeito da ingestao hidrica sobre a recuperacao cardiovascular pos-exercicio

Physical exercise elicits an increase in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and, consequently, in the rate-pressure product (RPP). Recovery of HR immediately after exercise indicates cardiovascular health. Blood pressure also decreases after exercise, occasionally reaching values lower than pre-exercise levels (postexercise hypotension). Studies have shown a positive effect of water intake on HR recovery after exercise. However, little is known about the effect of water intake on postexercise BP and RPP responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of water intake on postexercise cardiac work assessed by HR, BP and RPP. Fourteen healthy volunteers (22 ± 1.4 years) participated in the study. The experimental session consisted of HR, systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) recording at rest, followed by submaximal exercise on a cycle ergometer. Next, the subjects consumed water and the cardiovascular variables were recorded during recovery. In addition, a control session without postexercise water intake was performed. The RPP was calculated from the product of HR and SBP. Water intake prevented a postexercise hypotensive effect on DBP, but accelerated postexercise HR and RPP reduction during recovery when compared to the control session. It was concluded that water intake is an effective strategy to reduce postexercise cardiac work.

O exercício físico promove a elevação da frequência cardíaca (FC), pressão arterial (PA) e, por consequência, do duplo produto (DP). Imediatamente após o término do exercício, há a recuperação da FC; resposta que indica boa saúde cardiovascular. A PA também apresenta queda pós-exercício, atingindo, eventualmente, valores abaixo do repouso (hipotensão pós-exercício; HPE). Estudos têm demonstrado efeito positivo da ingestão hídrica (IH) sobre a recuperação da FC pós-exercício. Pouco se sabe a respeito do efeito dessa estratégia sobre o comportamento da PA e do DP nesse período. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o efeito da IH sobre o trabalho cardiovascular pós-exercício, por meio da avaliação da FC, PA e DP. Quatorze voluntários saudáveis (22 ± 1,4 anos) participaram desse estudo. A sessão experimental constou do registro da FC e PA sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD) de repouso, seguido de exercício físico submáximo em cicloergômetro. Posteriormente, realizou-se a IH e registro das variáveis cardiovasculares na recuperação. Adicionalmente, realizou-se uma sessão controle, excluindo-se a IH pós-exercício. O DP foi calculado a partir do produto da FC pela PAS. A IH impediu a ocorrência de HPE na PAD, porém acelerou a redução da FC e do DP, no período da recuperação pós-exercício, quando comparada à sessão controle. Pode-se concluir que a IH é uma estratégia eficiente na redução do trabalho cardiovascular pós-exercício.