Influence of the moderate altitude on the blood pressure

Introduction:

Some studies suggest that an exaggerated increase in blood pressure (BP) when making physical activity can be a factor of important risk leading to suffering hypertension. In addition, the moderate altitude can be a factor to alter blood pressure. The intensive training carried out by elite sportspersons produces modifications in the BP that must be evaluated especially at moderate altitude. This evaluation will allow us to know better the behaviour of the cardio-circulatory system at moderate altitude. Objectives: To determine how BP behaves during a stay at altitude and training programs.

Materials and methods:

– Design: Multi-group and intra-subject in the female volleyball players of the Granada University team (Spanish Honours Division) who trained for 12 day in the CAR of Sierra Nevada. – Material: Riva-Rocci’s Bracelet, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. – Procedure: During the 12-day stay in altitude the blood pressure were measured 8 daily samples by the auscultator method. Moments of the day; 1) morning, 2) before starting to train, 3 and 4) two samples were taken whilst training, 5) post-training, 6 and 7) two samples were taken during the afternoon training, and 8) at night. All the samples were taken following a properly established protocol.

More important conclusions:

The lowest BP is that of the morning and night samples. The BP while resting before training is higher than the BP while resting after having trained. As was expected, the highest BP levels were registered whilst training, those of the afternoon sessions being higher than those of the morning sessions.