title: Self-reported physical activity and myocardial flow reserve in postmenopausal women at risk for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular exercise protects against coronary heart disease (CHD) events and improves vascular reactivity. Exercise effects on myocardial flow reserve (MFR) are not well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed dynamic N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) in 16 postmenopausal women (60 +/- 6 years) to measure myocardial blood flow (MBF) and MFR. We also obtained information from each woman on her self-reported physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 16 patients, 6 reported moderate regular physical activity, and 10 did not. Women who reported regular, at least moderate physical activity had a higher percentage increase in adenosine MBF from rest compared with women who did not exercise (268% vs. 129%, p = 0.04) and had a significantly higher mean maximal MFR (3.68 vs. 2.29, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide further mechanistic support for the beneficial cardiovascular effects of exercise.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. duvernoy@umich.edu
authors.forename: Claire S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Duvernoy
authors.forename: Julie W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Briesmiester
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muzik
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia