RESUMEN
Both the altitude of Mexico City (D.F.) and the increase in atmospheric pollutants make it important to establish parameters of comparison for cardiovascular variables, such as heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). The epidemiological transition occurring in Mexico is increasing the need for human and physical resources at the first level of health care in order to perform early diagnoses of cardiovascular disorders among the population. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP) were recorded under diverse conditions (seated, standing, performing 30 sit-ups, and then standing and seated after the sit-ups) in 235 inhabitants of Milpa Alta (a suburb of Mexico City). The procedures and equipment used were designed and produced at the Center for Development and Technological Applications, Ministry of Health. The following results were found: HR decreases with age and body surface. Likewise, the HR increase due to exercise is lower with increasing age and larger body surface and its return to resting levels is slower. SBP and DBP magnitude is directly related to body surface. In women an increase of body weight was found to be significantly related to a higher SBP. The orthostatic reflex (OR) decreases with age and body surface. The descending slope is higher in women than in men. We propose that the study of OR could provide better information for predicting cardiovascular changes. The described procedures can be performed with the physical and human resources available at the Health Centers. The extension of this type of applied research to first level health care centers would allow the country to respond efficiently to the epidemiological transition.
