[Hemodynamics in arterial hypertension treated with running endurance training or nifedipine therapy]. / Hämodynamik bei arterieller Hypertonie unter Lauf-Ausdauertraining oder Nifedipin-Therapie.

This is a report about the therapeutic behavior of blood pressure and heart rate in patients suffering from hypertension. Forty male patients with hypertension (age: 30-53 years) were treated either with running or swimming therapy according to the stamina principle or with nifedipine therapy (40-60 mg/d). Both groups were randomized. Peripheric hemodynamics were investigated by means of the Xenon-133-muscle-clearance (M. tibialis anterior). The values of interest were half-value time (T1/2) and the mean functional vessel diameter. Additionally total peripheric vascular resistance (TPR) and radiocardiographic cardiac output (CO) were measured. Significant decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure values at rest were obtained with the therapeutic regimens. CO increased and the TPR decreased. The decrease of blood pressure during physical therapy and with nifedipine therapy also is due to the enhanced microcirculation. Half-value time of muscle clearance (T1/2) and the mean functional vascular diameter were increased significantly.

[The behavior of central and peripheral hemodynamics in isometric and dynamic stress in hypertensive patients treatment with regular sauna therapy]. / Das Verhalten von zentraler und peripherer Hämodynamik unter isometrischer und dynamischer Belastung bei Hypertonikern unter regelmässiger Saunabehandlung.

Effective treatment of hypertension includes decrease of blood pressure at rest, dynamic and isometric exercise. Therefore, we investigated the hemodynamic changes by radiocardiography (central hemodynamic) and Xenon-133-muscle clearance (peripheral hemodynamic) before and after a sauna treatment during a period of 3 months. 46 hypertensive men (WHO I-II, aged 41 +/- 11 years) participated in the study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest and during dynamic exercise were decreased significantly (p < or = 0.01) by sauna therapy. Change of blood pressure at isometric exercise was not significant (from 157.5 +/- 16.5 mmHg to 155.0 +/- 15.4 mmHg). The changes of cardiac output and total peripheral resistance were also not significant. Half-time of muscle clearance decreased significantly (from 4.4 +/- 1.9 min to 3.2 +/- 1.2 min, p < or = 0.01) and functional cross-section A increased significantly (from 3.8 +/- 0.9 mm2.c to 4.4 +/- 0.9 mm2.c, p < or = 0.01) after the sauna therapy at dynamic exercise, but not at isometric exercise. These results show the changes between isometric and dynamic exercise, which can only be explained well by a study of peripheral hemodynamic. Contrary to dynamic exercise, sauna therapy did not significantly decrease blood pressure at isometric exercise.

[Circulatory changes in acute sauna hyperthermia after heart transplantation]. / Kreislaufverhalten bei akuter Saunahyperthermie nach Herztransplantation.

The authors report on the influence of a single sauna-stay of patients following heart transplantation (HTX) during the rehabilitation phase III. Investigations of blood pressure, heart rate, changer in hemodynamics in the small and large vessels in 8 male patients following HTX (medium age: 42 years) showed that sauna-hyperthermia is well tolerated. We watched significant decreases of blood pressure (systolic and diastolic values), an improvement of the microcirculation in the small vessels, an increase of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a decrease of the total peripheric vascular resistance (TPVR). Possibilities and limitations of sauna-therapy for the therapy of risk factors following HTX especially under immunosuppression are discussed. First results are demonstrated.

[Sauna therapy in coronary heart disease with hypertension after bypass operation, in heart aneurysm operation and in essential hypertension]. / Die Saunatherapie bei koronarer Herzkrankheit mit Hypertonie nach Bypassoperation, bei Herzwand-Aneurysma-Operation und bei essentieller Hypertonie.

It is reported about the influence of the sauna therapy on blood pressure, heart frequency, peripheric hemodynamics (Xenon-133-muscle-clearance) and the reaction of the cardiac output or left ventricular ejection fraction with hypertonia patients, patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension and after aneurysm resection after heart infarction. It was shown that sauna therapy has a positive effect on hypertonic regulations troubles. One of the reasons of lowering blood pressure is the significant improvement of the peripheral hemodynamics. Sauna therapy does not result in any improvement of the left ventricles pumping function after operation. All described groups of patients showed a good tolerance and compliance with sauna therapy.

[Autogenic training in hypertensive dysregulation after aortocoronary venous bypass operation of coronary heart disease]. / Autogenes Training bei hypertonen Regulations-störungen nach aortokoronarer Venenbypass-Operation (ACVB) bei koronarer Herzkrankheit.

The authors report on the influence of autogenous training on blood pressure at rest and under stress conditions in patients with coronary heart disease following coronary bypass operation. We investigated the influence of autogenous training on the microcirculation and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) as well. The results showed a significant decrease in blood pressure at rest and also an increase of muscle circulation F and of LVEF.

[Potential use of the sauna in the long-term treatment of hypertensive cardiovascular circulation disorders--a comparison with kinesiotherapy]. / Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes der Sauna in der Langzeitbehandlung von hypertonen Herz-Kreislauf-Regulationsstörungen--ein Vergleich zur Kinesiotherapie.

The authors report about the long-term response (one and three years) of blood pressure and heart frequency under rest and load (50 W) in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, essential hypertension and after aortocoronary venous-bypass operation (ACVB) (n = 65) under regular visits (twice a week) to the Finnish sauna. In comparison, 68 hypertensive patients who took a regular kinesiotherapy (running and swimming) were studied. Besides the parameters of heart circulation mentioned above, peripheric microcirculation (M. tibialis anterior) by means of xenon-133 muscle clearance and central hemodynamics by means of LVEF (single probe with In 113) were studied in CHD-patients. Cardiac output at rest and under 50 W load was recorded in hypertensive patients. It was shown that regular balneotherapy had a positive effect on regulation of blood pressure and hemodynamics in patients with hypertension or CHD with hypertension, as had kinesiotherapy in hypertensive patients.

[The effect of health resort therapy on cardio-regulation following heart transplantation with special reference to CO2 balneotherapy]. / Wirkung der Kurorttherapie auf die Kardioregulation nach Herztransplantation unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der CO2-Bädertherapie.

It is being reported about the influence of a CO2-bathing series with 12 patients after heart-transplantation in connection with a light-motion therapy on blood pressure and haemodynamics. The comparative group was a group of 12 heart-transplantation patients of the same age without cure during the comparative time. It was shown that the balneotherapy after HTPL has positive effect on the development of the systolic blood pressure under rest and exercise. The peripheric microcirculation (musculus tibialis anterior) improved significantly. The left ventricular ejections fraction (LVEF) kept without change. Generally, the balneotherapy is well tolerated by heart-transplantation patients. There is no danger of a cardiac overcharge of the left ventricle.

[Effect of a single mild infrared A hyperthermia on body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and blood viscosity in healthy probands and patients with stage I and II arterial hypertension]. / Wirkung einer einmaligen milden Infrarot-A-Hyperthermie auf Körpertemperatur, Herzfrequenz, Blutdruck und Blutviskosität bei Gesunden und Patienten mit arterieller Hypertonie der Stadien I und II.

Report on mild and single whole body-irradiations with near infrared (IRA). The central body temperature went up to 38.5 degrees C in 9 healthy subjects and 9 patients known as having essential arterial hypertension of the stages I or II. In case of hypertensive patients a single exposure decreased significantly both arterial and venous blood pressure as well as the resulting mean arterial blood pressure. This beneficial effect lasted for at least 24 hours. Besides that, improvement of peripheral hemodynamics and plasma viscosity also was proven. Obviously, improved peripheral hemodynamics is linked to that blood pressure lowering effect which happens due to dilatation of peripheral blood vessels.

[Hemodynamics of patients with essential hypertension in mild infrared hyperthermia]. / Untersuchungen zur Hämodynamik bei Patienten mit essentieller Hypertonic unter milder Infrarot-Hyperthermie (IRA-Therm II).

Hyperthermia therapy in hypertensive patients is been discussed as an effective treatment. The aim of this study was to control the behaviour of circulation in conditions of hyperthermia. A group of 6 males, 32-53 years old, suffering from essential hypertension stage I-II underwent a single whole body-irradiation with near infrared (IRA), lasting over one hour. The body temperature rises up to maximal 38.5 degrees C. Before, during and after treatment the blood pressure (BP), the heart rate (HR), the stroke volume (SV), the cardiac output (CO) and the ejection fraction - measured by radionuclide ventriculography - where estimated and the peripheral arterial mean pressure (Pm), the ejection resistance (AW) and the Total peripheral resistance (TpW) were calculated. During irradiations there was a significant decrease of BP, AW and TpW. HR, SV, CO and EF increased significantly. Due to IRA irradiations there was a change in microcirculation with the consequence of lowering the blood pressure. The concomitant stimulation of the heart was well compensated as shown by CO, SV and EF.

[Systemic effects of ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation in serial whole body irradiation. I. Oxygen utilization, flow properties of blood, hemodynamics, blood components and phagocytosis]. / Systemische Effekte der Ultraviolett-, sichtbaren bzw. Infrarotstrahlung bei seriellen Ganzkörperbestrahlungen. I. Sauerstoffutilisation, Fliesseigenschaften des Blutes, Hämodynamik, Blutbestandteile und Phagozytose.

31 healthy volunteers at the age of 19 to 29 years underwent whole-body irradiations by either ultraviolet radiation (NARVA UVS 65-2; continuous sunshine-like emission, predominantly UVA plus 8% UVB; cumulative doses after 4 and 20 irradiations 8.8 J/cm2 and 51.0 J/cm2, respectively), or visible light (emission of a 3,500 Watt lamp HGMI 3500 DL, Tungsram CSSR, filtered through 6 mm window glass; cumulative dose 267.0 J/cm2 after 4 irradiations) or infrared radiation (250 Watt infrared lamps NARVA "Biotherm", emitting more than 70% infrared radiation; cumulative dose 159.0 J/cm2 after 4 irradiations). Before, during and after the irradiation series the following investigations were made: Arterial and venous oxygen pressure, oxygen utilization index; flow properties of peripheral blood (plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation kinetics, apparent blood viscosity); hemodynamics (veineal plethysmography, 133Xenon clearance, functional diameter of small blood vessels, peripheral blood pressure), phagocytotic capacity of polymorphonuclear white blood cells; hematological parameters (blood sedimentation rate, polymorphonuclear and eosinophilic blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit), serum proteins (IgG, IgA, IgM, complement C3, alpha-1-glycoprotein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, transferrin); calcium and phosphate in serum. As far as irradiance, dose and treatment frequencies are concerned, the experimental conditions were very similar to those in phototherapeutical practice. Under these circumstances there were no hints for unwanted early effects after application of all the three kinds of optical radiation used in that study. Considerable systemic responses exclusively were found by use of ultraviolet radiation. Under these experimental conditions according to dermatological phototherapy it has been proven the following biopositive systemic responses are due to happen: increase of serum calcium and phosphate, improvement of blood oxygen utilization, improvement of blood flow properties, and enhanced phagocytic capacity of polymorphonuclear white blood cells. Regarding the parameters taken in that study, no early unwanted side effects are to expect after therapeutical application of rather large doses of visible light or infrared radiation.

[Use of walking and sauna therapy in the rehabilitation of hypertensive patients with ischemic heart disease following aortocoronary venous bypass operation with special reference to hemodynamics]. / Der Einsatz der Lauf- und Saunatherapie zur Rehabilitation von hypertonen IHK-Patienten nach aortokoronarer Venenbypassoperation (ACVB) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Hämodynamik.

Rehabilitation results are reported concerning the behavior of blood pressure and heart rate, peripheral and central hemodynamics, after resting and during exercise and physical conditioning by running as training and sauna, respectively, in hypertensive patients with IHD after aortocoronary venous bypass (ACVB) surgery. Bicycle ergometric examinations an xenon wash-out (for the determination of the mean functional vessel cross section A) were performed in 43 male untrained patients before and after physical therapy. The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) at rest was also determined in these patients. Significant increases in the ejection fraction at rest (on average by 7-8%) could be demonstrated in both therapy groups. The group average value for peripheral microcirculation improved only in the sauna group. Blood pressure after resting and on exercise was not influenced. Results are discussed on the basis of the literature and practical conclusions drawn.

[Effect of sauna and walking series on blood pressure, peripheral microcirculation and performance behavior in essential hypertension]. / Der Einfluss von Sauna- und Laufserien auf Blutdruck, periphere Mikrozirkulation und Leistungsverhalten bei essentieller Hypertonie.

On the basis of two groups with hypertension (stage I and II) pre-treated with propranolol the authors report on possibilities of the assessment of therapeutic effects in physical therapy series. The systolic and diastolic behaviour of blood pressure at rest and under load as well as the peripheral blood supply before and after the therapeutic effect of sauna bath and running series lasting several weeks were investigated according to the principle of staying power. The xenon-133 muscle clearance served as method for the recognition of the peripheral microcirculation. In the series of sauna bath hyperthermia as well as in the running treatment significant reductions of blood pressure at rest and statistically provable improvements of the peripheral haemodynamics were the result. In higher degrees of load the hypertensive position of regulation is not influenced by the therapeutic method described.

[Experiences with the application of physiotherapy in peripheral arterial circulatory disorders of the lower extremities (stage I and IIa) under ambulatory conditions]. / Erfahrungen mit dem Einsatz der Physiotherapie bei peripheren arteriellen Durchblutungsstörungen der unteren Extremitäten (Stadium I und IIa) unter ambulanten Bedingungen.

In a comparative study the authors report on results of series of physical therapy in disturbances of the peripheral arterial blood supply. Examined were the behaviour of blood pressure, the painless walking distance and the peripheral microcirculation with the xenon-133-muscle clearance method before and after treatments lasting 10 to 12 weeks with combined exercises consisting of gymnastics and walking according to the interval principle (twice a week), with sauna visits twice a week as well as before and after diadynamic series of the current. In all therapy groups an improvement of the peripheral haemodynamics could be statistically ascertained. The distance of the intermittent claudication prolonged particularly in the group with interval walking. In the walking group and in the sauna group the values of the systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced. Side-effects were not observed. Therapy effects of the series of physical therapy described are best to be proved by the xenon-133 muscle clearance.

[On the significance of combined kinesitherapy for the rehabilitation of ageing people with essential hypertension (author's transl)]. / Zur Bedeutung der kombinierten Bewegungstherapie für die Rehabilitation der alternden Menschen mit essentieller Hypertonie.

Proceeding from their investigations the authors have formulated the following questions: 1. How do ageing people with essential hypertension tolerate sauna treatment (hyperthermia)? 2. What is the optimum thermal load for effective antihypertensive treatment? 3. What is the optimum interval, i.e. how many sauna baths are recommended per week? 4. Does an anti-hypertensive combination therapy consisting of sauna baths and jogging produce the same or even better results in aged hypertensives than sauna treatment on its own?