Exercise-Induced Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Coronary Artery Disease in a Marathon Runner
Received 29 August 2006; received in revised form 19 September 2006; accepted 19 September 2006. published online 12 January 2007.
Aerobic activity performed on a regular basis is 1 of several lifestyle recommendations endorsed to reduce risk of coronary disease. However, 1 potential concern of arduous aerobic activity is exercise-induced hypertension. This is the first case to our knowledge, of accelerated coronary calcification in an otherwise asymptomatic middle-aged male marathon runner devoid of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. As a consequence of exercise-induced hypertension and associated oxidative stress, improvement of endothelial dysfunction occurred after antioxidant supplementation. In conclusion, vigorous aerobic activity in susceptible individuals may promote oxidative stress and coronary atherosclerosis.
aDepartment of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
bDepartment of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
cDepartment of Radiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
dDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.