It is well-accepted that physical activity is beneficial for optimal heart health.  However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding how physical activity works to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.  

We believe one of the most important factors in keeping cardiovascular disease rates low is keeping the blood vessels healthy.  Scientists know that damage to the blood vessels can start the process of atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of cholesterol, fatty substances, and waste products in the blood vessel walls.  Physical activity can both prevent this damage from happening and help to lessen its progression once it begins.

The main purpose of our study is to investigate the effect of long-term physical activity on factors in the blood that help to keep the blood vessels healthy. To achieve this purpose, we are looking for people who are:

• male, age 55-80
• healthy - no evidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer
• non-smoking
• highly active - participate in 3 or more days/week in moderate to intense endurance exercise
• and have been doing so for at least 20 years

We will have you fill out a medical history and physical activity questionnaire and ask you questions about your health and training history.  If you qualify for our study, there will be 3 visits to our lab:

Visit 1 Physical examination by a physician (EKG, blood pressure, etc)
VO2max test on a treadmill (incl. anaerobic threshold and heart rate at AT and VO2max)

Visit 2 Blood draw for markers of vessel health
Non-invasive testing of blood vessel function
30 minute sub-maximal treadmill testing (~70% VO2max) with blood draws after 5 and 30 minutes of exercise

Visit 3 DEXA scan for body composition (% fat and lean mass) and bone density

A secondary purpose of our study is to find out whether these factors in the blood remain when exercise is stopped. This information will be very important to let us determine if near-daily exercise is necessary to keep these factors in the blood. To achieve this purpose, participants will be asked to volunteer to cease training for 10 days.  Following this period, we will perform 2 days of testing that include 1) blood draw and non-invasive testing of blood vessel function and 2) DEXA scan.  We will work with your training schedule to place this 10-day exercise cessation.