Short communication, Note
Functional capability of the cardiovascular system in alcoholics
N. Čorović
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
M. Mimica
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
A clinical investigation of the functional capability of the cardiovascular system was carried out in two groups of male subjects - 49 alcoholics and 37 non-alcoholics - with an average age of 53 years during a phase of abstinence. All subjects were tested by means of exercise test on the »Viagraf«, the maximum exercise having been planned according to age and pulse rate in one minute. Before, during and after exercise test the following variables were checked: heart rate, arterial pressure, oxygen consumption in ml/kg/min, work achieved in watts or kilopond-metres in minutes, and the metabolic equivalent and minutes of walking. with simultaneous recording of the electrocardiogram in 12 leads, before and at the end of each exercise level achieved, as well as after exercise. The functional capability of the cardiovascular system, measured by indirect oxygen consumption during exercise test and on the basis of the level of physical work achieved, was not statistically significantly different between the investigated groups. During exercise test heart rate per minute was statistically significantly higher tin the group of alcoholics than in the group of non-alcoholics. The maximum systolic and diastolic arterial pressure during exercise test were significantly higher in the group of alcoholics than in the group of non-alcoholics. It is concluded that alcoholics are probably at a greater risk than non-alcoholics from disturbances in cardiac action and heart diseases during physical exercise.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
153601
URI
Publication date:
21.8.1987.
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