Hemorheology and exercise: Aspects for PVD

Abstract

Exercise changes many body functions including blood rheology. Two aspects are particularly relevant for peripheral vascular disease (PVD): lack of exercise is a risk factor for PVD, and regular exercise is a therapy for PVD. In order to clarify the role of blood rheology in all this, we have conducted a number of independent trials. Our results show that acute physical stress leads to a marked viscid-alion of blood. A relative lack of exercise is associated with low and being an athlete with high blood fluidity. This does not apply to purely power trained men. Daily exercise improves the initially normal blood rheology of volunteers and normalize the initially abnormal blood rheology of PVD patients. Both cellular and plasmatic components are involved. We conclude that exercise has complex effects on blood rheology which can be used in treating PVD.