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Biomedical subjects

Erik E Solberg

Publications and source records attributed to Erik E Solberg.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

ESC Study Group of Sports Cardiology: recommendations for participation in leisure-time physical activity and competitive sports for patients with ischaemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the proper management of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the general population is well established, but recommendations for physical activity and competitive sports in these patients are scarce. The aim of the present paper was to provide such recommendations to complement existing ESC and international guidelines on rehabilitation and primary/secondary prevention. DESIGN AND METHODS: Due to the lack of studies in this field, the current recommendations are the result of consensus among experts. Sports are classified into low/moderate/high dynamic and low/moderate/high static, respectively. RESULTS: Patients with a definitive IHD and higher probability of cardiac events are not eligible for competitive sports (CS) but for individually designed leisure time physical activity (LPA); patients with definitive IHD and lower probability of cardiac events as well as those with no IHD but with a positive exercise test and high risk profile (SCORE > 5%) are eligible for low/moderate static and low dynamic (IA-IIA) sports and individually designed LPA. Patients without IHD and a high risk profile+ a negative exercise-test and those with a low risk profile (SCORE < 5%) are allowed all LPA and competitive sports with a few exceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Individually designed LPA is possible and encouraged in patients with and without established IHD. Competitive sports may be restricted for patients with IHD, depending on the probability of cardiac events and the demands of the sport according to the current classification.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The effects of long meditation on plasma melatonin and blood serotonin.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of meditation are well documented, but the biochemical mechanisms have not been fully identified. One effect mechanism may be via influence on neurotransmitters. MATERIAL/METHODS: Therefore, plasma melatonin and blood serotonin concentrations were measured before and after one hour of meditation in advanced male meditators (n=27, mean age 46 years). They were compared with a matched reference group (n=29, mean age 43 years) who rested for one hour. In the meditators, melatonin and serotonin from before and after three consecutive hours of meditation were also compared. RESULTS: Initially, the median melatonin level was 4.9 pg/ml-1 in the meditators and 3.1 pg/ml-1 in the reference group (p<0.01). After one hour of practice, melatonin had decreased to a median of 3.4 pg/ml-1 in the meditators (p<0.0001), but was unchanged in the reference group. After three hours of meditation, melatonin had declined further in the meditators. After one hour of practice, serotonin concentrations decreased in both the meditators and the reference group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that advanced meditators have higher melatonin levels than non-meditators. Melatonin decreases during long meditation, a finding the study does not explain. Serotonin declines after both one-hour meditation and rest, indicating that serotonin may be a marker of general rest and not meditation-specific relaxation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hemodynamic changes during long meditation.

Changes in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in advanced male meditators during 1 hr of meditation were compared with matched control participants resting for 1 hr. Also, changes in HR and BP during 3-hr meditation were analyzed. HR was recorded continuously during meditation (n = 38) and the control rest (n = 21). BP was measured before and after the meditation (n = 44) and the rest (n = 30). During the first hour, HR declined more in the meditators than the controls (p < .01). Within participant variability of HR was significantly lower during meditation than rest (p < .05). In the second hour of meditation, HR declined further (p = .01). BP was unaffected by either meditation or rest. In conclusion, meditation reduced the level of HR and within participant variability of HR more than rest. HR continued to decline during the second hour of meditation.

Adult↗