Effect of high intensity interval training on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The study's overarching goal is to evaluate the impact of HIIT on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty obese hypertensive women aged between 40-50 years were randomized to group A (Intervention group, n = 30) or group B (Control group, n = 30). Intervention group received HIIT (4 minutes of cycling at 85-90% of peak HR interspersed with 3-minute active recovery time at 60 - 70% of peak HR, three times per week). Arteriovenous stiffness indicators, the augmentation index corrected for heart rate 75 (AIx@75HR), and oscillometric pulse wave velocity (o-PWV), as well as cardio-metabolic parameters, were assessed before and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Finding between-group analysis showed a significant difference in AIx@75HR (95% CI: -8.45 to 0.30) , o-PWV ( 95% CI: -1.14 to 0.15), total cholesterol, (95% CI: -31.25 to -1.12), HDL-cholesterol (95% CI: 8.92 to 0.94), LDL-cholesterol (95% CI: -25.35 to -0.06) , and triglycerides (95% CI: -53.58 to -2.51). CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity interval training for 12 weeks has a favorable effect on arterial stiffness in obese hypertensive women and lowers associated cardio-metabolic risk factors.

Physical functioning and risk for sleep disorders in US adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2014.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep disorders (SDs), particularly problems with falling asleep or daytime sleepiness, have negative impact on health and longevity. Sleep deprivation is also associated with a decline in physical functioning (PF) that mediates the ability to perform activities of daily living. But it remains unknown if deterioration in PF can predict the risk of having a SD. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to assess the risk of SD associated with PF status in the US adult population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study design with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from year 2005 to year 2014. METHODS: PF limitation is assessed by reported difficulty in performing 10 tasks selected from PF questionnaire. SD is identified by subjective description of presence of doctor diagnosed SD. Also, five categories of comorbidities that caused difficulty in carrying out these tasks were created. RESULTS: The adults with self-reported PF limitation have 41% higher odds of having a SD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-1.59). Moreover, participants having cognitive problems and cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders as secondary conditions that cause difficulty in PF have 145% and 28% higher odds (OR = 2.45 and 1.28; 95% CI = 2.01-3.01 and 1.08-1.53, respectively) of having a SD. Also, females have a 27% lower odds of having a SD than males (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.63-0.83). CONCLUSION: Risk for SD is associated with increasing level of functional disability. We advocate the importance of engagement in physical activities to prevent or delay the onset of SD.