Two-week Paramedic Hospital Training Augments Blood Pressure Response to Isometric Handgrip Exercise in Healthy Young Men.

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Persistent stressful situations can have detrimental cardiovascular effects; however, effects on the blood pressure (BP) response to exercise have not been fully examined. This study investigated the impact of a 2-week stressful situation on the exercise pressor response. Eight healthy male university paramedic trainees underwent a 2-week paramedic hospital training and a control period study. Pre- and post-intervention, BP responses to the exercise test (2-min submaximal isometric handgrip [IHG] exercise followed by post-exercise muscle ischemia [PEMI]) and cold pressure test (CPT) were assessed. A stress biomarker, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity, significantly increased after hospital training (Pre: 8.8 ± 4.6; Post: 15.5 ± 7.3 kU/L; P = 0.036), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control period (Pre: 11.3 ± 3.6; Post: 10.4 ± 4.5 kU/L). Although no significant trial (hospital training vs. control)-by-intervention (pre- vs. post-2-week period) interactions were detected in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) response to PEMI or CPT, a significant interaction in the MAP response to IHG exercise was noted (Δ48.9 ± 11.2 to Δ55.5 ± 9.1 mmHg, hospital training; Δ53.2 ± 14.1 to Δ51.2 ± 11.9 mmHg, control; P = 0.035). Consequently, changes in the sAA and MAP pre-intervention to post-intervention showed a significant correlation (τ = 0.397, P = 0.036). Results showed that stressful paramedic hospital training augmented BP response to IHG exercise. This suggests that prolonged stressful situations increase pressor response to exercise, particularly in cases involving healthy young men.