Journal article
Exercise training reduces the frequency of menopausal hot flushes by improving thermoregulatory control
Menopause, Vol.23(7), pp.708-718
2016
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Postmenopausal hot flushes occur due to a reduction in estrogen production causing thermoregulatory and vascular dysfunction. Exercise training enhances thermoregulatory control of sweating, skin and brain blood flow. We aimed to determine if improving thermoregulatory control and vascular function with exercise training alleviated hot flushes. METHODS: Twenty-one symptomatic women completed a 7-day hot flush questionnaire and underwent brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and a cardiorespiratory fitness test. Sweat rate and skin blood flow temperature thresholds and sensitivities, and middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) were measured during passive heating. Women performed 16 weeks of supervised exercise training or control, and measurements were repeated. RESULTS: There was a greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (4.45 mL/kg/min [95% CI: 1.87, 8.16]; P = 0.04) and reduced hot flush frequency (48 hot flushes/wk [39, 56]; P <0.001) after exercise compared with control. Exercise reduced basal core temperature (0.14°C [0.01, 0.27]; P = 0.03) and increased basal MCAv (2.8 cm/s [1.0, 5.2]; P = 0.04) compared with control. Sweat rate and skin blood flow thresholds occurred approximately 0.19°C and 0.17°C earlier, alongside improved sweating sensitivity with exercise. MCAv decreased during heating (P  <0.005), but was maintained 4.5 cm/s (3.6, 5.5; P <0.005) higher during heating after exercise compared with control (0.6 cm/s [-0.4, 1.4]). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training that improves cardiorespiratory fitness reduces self-reported hot flushes. Improvements are likely mediated through greater thermoregulatory control in response to increases in core temperature and enhanced vascular function in the cutaneous and cerebral circulations.
Details
- Title
- Exercise training reduces the frequency of menopausal hot flushes by improving thermoregulatory control
- Authors
- Tom G Bailey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringN Timothy Cable (Author) - John Moores University, United KingdomNabil Aziz (Author) - Liverpool Women's Hospital, United KingdomRebecca Dobson (Author) - University of Liverpool, United KingdomVictoria S Sprung (Author) - University of Liverpool, United KingdomDavid Low (Author) - John Moores University, United KingdomHelen Jones (Author) - John Moores University, United Kingdom
- Publication details
- Menopause, Vol.23(7), pp.708-718
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Date published
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1097/GME.0000000000000625
- ISSN
- 1072-3714
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2016. This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Bailey, Tom G; Cable, N Timothy; Aziz, Nabil; Dobson, Rebecca; Sprung, Victoria S; Low, David; Jones, Helen (2016). Exercise training reduces the frequency of menopausal hot flushes by improving thermoregulatory control. Menopause. 23:7 pp.708-718.
- Organisation Unit
- UniSC Clinical Trials Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450326002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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