title: Vascular Health in American Football Players: Cardiovascular Risk Increased in Division III Players.
abstract: Studies report that football players have high blood pressure (BP) and increased cardiovascular risk. There are over 70,000 NCAA football players and 450 Division III schools sponsor football programs, yet limited research exists on vascular health of athletes. This study aimed to compare vascular and cardiovascular health measures between football players and nonathlete controls. Twenty-three athletes and 19 nonathletes participated. Vascular health measures included flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). Cardiovascular measures included clinic and 24 hr BP levels, body composition, VO2 max, and fasting glucose/cholesterol levels. Compared to controls, football players had a worse vascular and cardiovascular profile. Football players had thicker carotid artery IMT (0.49 ± 0.06 mm versus 0.46 ± 0.07 mm) and larger brachial artery diameter during FMD (4.3 ± 0.5 mm versus 3.7 ± 0.6 mm), but no difference in percent FMD. Systolic BP was significantly higher in football players at all measurements: resting (128.2 ± 6.4 mmHg versus 122.4 ± 6.8 mmHg), submaximal exercise (150.4 ± 18.8 mmHg versus 137.3 ± 9.5 mmHg), maximal exercise (211.3 ± 25.9 mmHg versus 191.4 ± 19.2 mmHg), and 24-hour BP (124.9 ± 6.3 mmHg versus 109.8 ± 3.7 mmHg). Football players also had higher fasting glucose (91.6 ± 6.5 mg/dL versus 86.6 ± 5.8 mg/dL), lower HDL (36.5 ± 11.2 mg/dL versus 47.1 ± 14.8 mg/dL), and higher body fat percentage (29.2 ± 7.9% versus 23.2 ± 7.0%). Division III collegiate football players remain an understudied population and may be at increased cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Feairheller
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Aichele
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Joyann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Oakman
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lenzo
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Avery N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Naomi L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Santaniello
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Karla A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Chavis
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Allyson K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Getty
authors.affiliation: The Hypertension and Endothelial Function with Aerobic and Resistance Training (HEART) Laboratory, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Tia R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Wisdo
authors.affiliation: Ursinus College Sports Medicine Clinic, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: JoAnna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19139, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.affiliation: Ursinus College Sports Medicine Clinic, Health & Exercise Physiology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chlad