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Biomedical subjects

K H Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to K H Cooper.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Dentist, "heal thyself": modification of life style.

In the late 1960's, preventive health care began to gain in popularity in the United States and the movement carried over into the 1970's. During this time, sizable decreases in deaths from heart disease, strokes, and accidents have been noted. As a result, the lowest death rate in the history of this country (8.9 per 1000) occurred in both 1975 and 1976. Since 1970, an increase in longevity has been documented and it can be said that Americans are living longer--not just longer but hopefully better! People are beginning to learn that "it is not so much that we die, we kill ourselves!" With proper weight, diet, and exercise, avoiding tobacco, early detection and treatment of high blood pressure, use of seat belts, and control of stimulants and drugs, thousands of lives are being saved annually. In today's busy and demanding society, success in any field requires more than just education and hard work. It requires good health, both mental and physical. Pursue these goals vigorously and remember, "It is always cheaper and much easier to maintain good health than it is to regain it once it is lost!"

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1977

The important role of fitness determination and stress testing in predicting coronary incidence.

The question of whether there is some effect of status of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise ECG abnormalities on occurrence of CHD other than their effect on the risk factors of serum cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, and smoking seems to have been answered in the affirmative by this study. The relative prognostic importance of the measures considered here, the role of exercise, and the interrelationships between fitness, exercise, other risk factors, and CHD provide many interesting hypotheses for continued study. A future investigation will involve a large prospective study in which the risk function to be derived would include stress ECG and treadmill performance as predictor variables. The retrospective approach reported in this paper had certain limitations. It did, however, permit demonstration of new results because, essentially for the first time, all of the important risk factors are measured in the study population and can be evaluated simultaneously.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Physical fitness levels vs selected coronary risk factors. A cross-sectional study.

Several studies show significant correlations of blood variables, weight, abnormal electrocardiograms, and blood pressure with the incidence of coronary heart disease, but the quantification of fitness and its correlation with coronary heart disease is more difficult. In this study, approximately 3,000 men, average age of 44.6 years, were examined for blood and lipid profile, pulmonary function, percent body fat determination, and Balke maximal performance treadmill stress testing with multilead ECG monitoring. Five age-adjusted cardiorespiratory fitness categories were determined from treadmill times. A consistent inverse relationship among physical fitness categories and resting heart rate, body weight, percent body fat, serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, glucose, and systolic blood pressure, was observed. Forced vital capacity was directly related to levels of fitness. These results, although cross-sectional, imply that physical fitness is related to lower coronary risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

A comparative analysis of four protocols for maximal treadmill stress testing.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the results from four commonly used maximal treadmill stress tests: Balke, Bruce, Ellestad, and a continuous multistage running protocol. The results compared serial and maximal heart rate, metabolic demands, and ECG determinations. Fifty-one healthy men, 35 to 55 years of age, volunteered for this study and were dichotomized into trained and untrained subjects. Regression analyses showed all the tests to correlate highly. No significant differences were found between tests at maximum for V02, heart rate, and blood pressure, except for V02 for the Balke as compared to the running protocol (39 vs. 41 ml./Kg-min). The Balke protocol showed lower values at maximum in VE and RP than the other three tests as well as the most gradual rate of progression in MET cost (0.5 METS per minute). The increase for the Bruce and Ellestad tests was from 1 to 1.5 METS per minute, and a rapid initial increase (9 METS in the first 3 minutes) made the running test undesirable as a screening method. Although serial plots of heart rate and MET costs were similar to those previously reported for different population samples, the present data further refined these values. Finally, a nomograph comparing treadmill time and V02, max. for the Balke, Bruce, and Ellestad tests was developed from these data.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

A physiological evaluation of professional soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological functions of a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Eighteen players were evaluated on cardiorespiratory function, endurance performance, body composition, blood chemistry, and motor fitness measures near the end of their competitive season. The following means were observed: age, 26 yrs; height, 176 cm; weight 75.5 kg; resting heart rate, 50 beats/min; maximum heart rate (MHR), 188 beats/min; maximum oxygen intake (VO2 max), 58.4 ml/kg-min-1; maximum ventilation (VEmax BTPS), 154 L/min; body fat, 9.59%; 12-min run, 1.86 miles; and Illinois agility run, 15.6 secs. Results on resting blood pressure, serum lipids, vital capacity, flexibility, upper body strength, and vertical jump tests were comparable to values found for the sedentary population. Comparing the results with previously collected data on professional American Football backs indicated that the soccer players were shorter; lighter in body weight; higher in VO2 max (4 ml/kg-min-1) and body fat (1.8%); and similar in MHR, VE max, and VC. The 12-min run scores were similar to the initial values observed for the 1970 Brazilian World Cup Team. The agility run results were superior to data collected from other groups. Their endurance capabilities, agility, and low percent of body fat clearly differentiate them from the sedentary population and show them to be similar to that of professional American football backs.

Body Composition↗
PubMed1976

Adrenocortical response to marathon running.

Plasma cortisol and plasma aldosterone levels were measured before and immediately upon completion of a marathon run in 7 highly conditioned male subjects in order to evaluate the response of the adrenal cortex to physical exertion. Both cortisol and aldosterone values rose significantly in response to the stress of the muscular exertion of the 26 mile, 385 yard run.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1975

Frequency of training as a determinant for improvement in cardiovascular function and body composition of middle-aged men.

Frequency, duration and intensity of training have been shown to be important determinants for improving various physiological functions. This report represents a series of six training investigations conducted by the investigators over the past seven years. Within the six investigations ten separate groups were studied. These data were combined and tabulated to look at frequency of training as a determinant for improving cardiovascular function and body composition of middle-aged men. The subjects included 148 healthy, sedentary, volunteer men ranging from 28 to 64 years of age (x equal to 41). The experiments were carefully controlled and included running 30 to 45 minutes for two (four groups), three (three groups) or four (three groups) days each week for 20 weeks. The results show that all frequencies had a significant effect on cardiovascular function, but only three and four days/week regimens showed reduction in total body weight and fat. Changes in maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) were similar for two and three days/week programs, and significantly greater for four days. The data support the notion of frequency of training being an important criterion for improving cardiovascular function and body composition.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Strategic withdrawal from cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoking can be viewed mainly as a psychological habit with accompanying pharmacological and social satisfactions and reinforcements. It is mainly a learned behavior, occurring in response to direct and indirect social pressures. Though each person's smoking habit is individualized, studies show that smokers find at least six psychological satisfactions in the habit: stimulation, handling, relaxation, tension reduction, craving and habit. To quit smoking, the individual must undergo physical and psychological withdrawal. Physical withdrawal symptoms last about a week but it may take months or years to restructure a life without cigarettes. Quitting is a long-term learning process involving a great deal of unconscious, constructive and painful conflict. One can stop smoking if the problem is attacked on a broad front, if one "burns one's bridges" behind him/her and if suitable satisfying alternatives and involvements are discovered. Physical exercise in the form of aerobics is proposed as an especially effective alternative behavior.

Alcohol Drinking↗