Abstract

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is the beat-to-beat variation in time of consecutive heartbeats. It is one of the indicators of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. The ANS control of the cardiovascular system in obesity and hypertension remains controversial. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze the effects of isotonic exercise on frequency domain indicators of HRV in young obese adults with parental history of hypertension and compare the same with that of normal controls along with an assessment of their recovery.
Materials and Methods: Normotensive subjects in the age group of 18–22 years were selected and classified into two groups, based on body mass index and parental history of hypertension. Electrocardiogram was recorded before exercise, immediately after exercise and during recovery using powerlab. Result: Statistically significant variations were observed when values of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio were compared in all the three conditions. Obese students with positive history of parental hypertension reflected a sympathovagal imbalance that exaggerated during exercise with delayed recovery. Conclusion: This study reveals the importance of vagal inhibition during exercise. It has also enabled us to detect cardiovascular autonomic imbalance that is exaggerated during exercises in young obese subjects who are genetically susceptible and more prone to develop hypertension later in life.