Swedish Defense Forces

Vitamin D intervention effects on the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections among Young Finnish Men

A cold season involves higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Several epidemiologic studies have implicated that persons with a cardiac disease, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) may be at higher risk for these adverse health events, but the mechanisms are not well established. Because both exercise and cold exposure stimulates cardiac and circulatory functions it is important to study their interaction especially among people with CAD and whose myocardial oxygen supply and function are weakened. The study examines how recommended health-enhancing upper and lower body exercise and warm-up in combination with cold exposure affects cardiovascular functions of people with CAD.
The research includes randomized controlled experiments where the participants are 35-75 year old men with CAD (CCS I-II) and recruited from the Oulu University Hospital. Each participant undergoes four different trials in random order where the temperature (+22°C or -15°C) and the form of exercise (brisk walking at 5.5 km/h or upper body exercise at 30 W), and warm-up regime is varied. The used exercise, clothing and exposure resemble an ordinary wintertime exercise event. Novel techniques are used to broadly assess cardiovascular function before, during and in the recovery phase.
The obtained information is synthesized and translated to tailored year-round exercise instructions for people with CAD by the research team including experts from sports sciences, physiology, public and occupational health, clinical sciences and with complementary knowledge in physical activity, effective interventions and cardiovascular function. The study has broad national and international impact on the relatively passive aging population having CAD and residing and working in a cold climate. The produced information enables finding means to activate persons with CAD and where appropriate and safe year-round exercise may reduce or prevent adverse health effects. Health care personnel will have an improved possibility to prescribe physical activity programs for their clients and enabling better instructions of healthy and safe exercise as a way to promote health.