Abstract

Backgrounds: Sedentary lifestyle has given rise to a huge problem of lifestyle diseases which are affecting our day-to-day living and work. Exercises alter cardiac autonomic functions of the body. Heart rate variability (HRV) also has prognostic significance for cardiovascular diseases.

Aim and Objective: The aim of this study is to compare pulse, blood pressure (BP), and HRV parameters among regular exercise group and sedentary groups.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 healthy medical students of age 19–23 years with permission from the Institutional Human Ethics committee. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group I consists of 25 apparently healthy subjects who have regularly run/walk/swimming for at least the past 6 months. Regular practice was defined as run/walk/swimming in 150 min in a week and Group II consists of 25 apparently healthy individuals of sedentary lifestyle who carried out only their daily chores and did not do any form of extra physical exercise to improve their physical fitness. This non-exercise regimen was continued for 6 months. Pulse, BP, and HRV parameters among both groups compared.

Results: Resting heart rate, systolic BP, and diastolic BP were significantly lower in exercise groups than non-exercise groups. There were insignificantly higher low-frequency (LF) (normalized unit [nu]) and LF/high-frequency (HF) ratio in non-exercise group compared to exercise groups. There was insignificantly higher HF (nu) in exercise group compared to non-exercise groups.

Conclusion: HRV also has prognostic significance for cardiovascular diseases. Our finding suggestive of parasympathetic dominance in regular exercise group compared to sedentary group. Regular exercise regime has many advantages and helps also to prevent from lifestyle diseases.

Key words: Heart Rate Variability; Exercise; Sedentary Lifestyle