title: Cerebral blood flow regulation, exercise and pregnancy: why should we care?
abstract: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation is an indicator of cerebrovascular health increasingly recognized as being influenced by physical activity. Although regular exercise is recommended during healthy pregnancy, the effects of exercise on CBF regulation during this critical period of important blood flow increase and redistribution remain incompletely understood. Moreover, only a few studies have evaluated the effects of human pregnancy on CBF regulation. The present work summarizes current knowledge on CBF regulation in humans at rest and during aerobic exercise in relation to healthy pregnancy. Important gaps in the literature are highlighted, emphasizing the need to conduct well-designed studies assessing cerebrovascular function before, during and after this crucial life period to evaluate the potential cerebrovascular risks and benefits of exercise during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2 Department of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec City, PQ, Canada, G1V OA6.
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec City, PQ, Canada, G1V OA6 Research Centre, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et pneumologie de Québec, Québec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G5 patrice.brassard@kin.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brassard
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration
keywords: cerebral blood flow; cerebrovascular health; exercise; physical activity; pregnancy