Arterial Destiffening

Arterial stiffness is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.

A number of factors are thought to contribute to arterial stiffness include decreased elastin and increased collagen in the arterial wall, abnormal endothelial regulation of arterial smooth muscle tone, and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, which lead to protein cross-linking (collagen becomes stiffer and less susceptible to hydrolytic turnover).

Stiffness of large arteries increases with age, even in healthy individuals without cardiovascular disease. However, arterial stiffness is less pronounced in those who engage in regular endurance exercise.

Even once established, large artery stiffness can be diminished by a program of physical exercise. For example, one study found, three months of aerobic training (walking or jogging, 40 minutes per day at 70% to 75%) of maximum heart rate enhanced carotid artery compliance to levels observed in endurance trained men of similar age.

The vascular benefits of exercise are indirectly related to a decline in the release of neurohumoral vasoconstrictors and reduced efferent sympathetic tone, and to endothelial mechanical signaling associated with increased pulsatile flow and stretch and consequent enhanced nitric oxide stimulation.

Noteworthy: diminished arterial stiffness is associated with aerobic training; not resistance training (weight lifting).

Source:
Mechanism, Pathophysiology and Therapy of Arterial Stiffness
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology 2005 25:932