[Behavior of heart rate, blood pressure, lactate, glucose, noradrenaline and adrenaline level in coronary heart disease patients in the course of light swimming stress].

In previous investigations, we have been able to demonstrate that healthy individuals and CHD patients with normal exercise capacity experience changes in cardiovascular parameters, metabolism and sympathetic activity during light swimming exercise, changes which are not observed in seated bicycle ergometry at an exercise level of less than 2 W/kg-1. We have now examined 12 post-infarction patients (54.3 +/- 6 years) with limited exercise capacity (1.2 +/- 0.3 W/kg-1), who have been participating in physical therapy for 29 months (median time) under continuous medication. The examination comprised incremental seated bicycle ergometry and, approximately 60 min later, light swimming (2 to 3 x 2 min; speed v = 0.33 +/- 0.02 m.s-1; T = 28 degrees C). The changes in heart rate, blood pressure, lactate, glucose, adrenaline and noradrenaline levels during the swimming exercise were equivalent in mean value to ergometry at the 100 W level. Three patients had to discontinue swimming before the scheduled time, due to considerable arrhythmias. Three other patients stopped swimming because of subjective overexertion. The exercise reaction was less favorable among those unaccustomed to swimming than among regular swimmers.