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Study Finds Exercise May Rewire Heart Nerves, Offering New Clues To Heart Health

Exercise May Change The Nerves That Regulate Heart Rate, Study Finds

Most of us know exercise is good for the heart. It makes the muscle stronger and brings the resting heart rate down. But new research from the University of Bristol suggests there is another layer. Regular exercise may also change the nerves that tell the heart how fast to beat.

The heart is partly run by the autonomic nervous system, the body’s autopilot. It handles heartbeat, breathing and digestion without you thinking about it. According to a University of Bristol statement, the team studied rats that did 10 weeks of moderate treadmill running. They then examined the stellate ganglia, two small clusters of nerve cells on either side of the lower neck and upper chest. These clusters send the “go faster” signals to the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/not-just-body-fat-your-muscle-health-may-play-a-larger-role-in-type-2-diabetes-risk-study-finds-article-155101901" data-type="tilCustomLink">heart</a>.

The study appeared in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience, with researchers from University College London and two Brazilian universities.

In untrained rats, the left and right clusters looked fairly similar. In trained rats, they did not. Healthline, reporting on the paper, said the right cluster held about four times as many neurons as the left. The nerve cells also changed size in opposite directions. Those on the left grew to nearly twice their size, while those on the right became slightly smaller.

The trained rats also had a lower heart rate, around 280 beats a minute against 314 in untrained rats, while their blood pressure stayed about the same, according to Healthline’s report on the study.

Doctors already target these nerve clusters in some patients. <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-ear-nerve-stimulation-help-lower-high-blood-pressure-scientists-test-a-new-approach-article-156406920" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Nerve</a> blocks and denervation procedures calm them down to treat irregular heartbeats, angina (chest pain from poor blood flow to the heart) and stress-induced “broken-heart” syndrome.

Dr. Augusto Coppi, the study’s lead author, said in the University of Bristol’s statement that the clusters work like the heart’s “dimmer switch.” He said that knowing how they differ on each side could one day help doctors pick the side most likely to benefit.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/vanessa-trump-recovers-from-very-invasive-breast-cancer-reveals-early-sign-of-the-disease-article-156414344" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Vanessa Trump Recovers From 'Very Invasive' Breast Cancer, Reveals Early Sign Of The Disease</a>

This was a rat study. Dr. Coppi himself said in the same statement that the findings are early-stage and that clinical studies would need to follow. The team still has to show how these changes affect the way the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/heart-health-in-women-after-pregnancy-why-pre-eclampsia-and-gestational-complications-matter-years-later-article-156408711" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">heart</a> actually works. They plan to test larger animals and eventually people, using noninvasive markers so no surgery is needed.

So this is not a new reason to change anyone’s treatment. It is a clue, not a cure.

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The advice itself is old and well proven. The World Health Organization recommends that adults aged 18 to 64 do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity. Brisk walking, swimming and cycling all count. WHO data also shows that about a third of adults worldwide still don’t do enough.

If you have a heart condition, get chest pain, or take heart medicines, check with your doctor before starting a new routine. For everyone else, the message is simple. Your heart is not the only thing that changes when you work out. The nerves that control it may change too.

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Most of us know exercise is good for the heart. It makes the muscle stronger and brings the resting heart rate down. But new research from the University of Bristol suggests there is another layer. Regular exercise may also change the nerves that tell the heart how fast to beat. What The Researchers DidThe heart is partly run by the autonomic nervous system, the body’s autopilot. It handles heartbeat, breathing and digestion without you thinking about it. According to a University of Bristol statement, the team studied rats that did 10 weeks of moderate treadmill running. They then examined the stellate ganglia, two small clusters of nerve cells on either side of the lower neck and upper chest. These clusters send the “go faster” signals to the heart. The study appeared in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience, with researchers from University College London and two Brazilian universities.In untrained rats, the left and right clusters looked fairly similar. In trained rats, they did not. Healthline, reporting on the paper, said the right cluster held about four times as many neurons as the left. The nerve cells also changed size in opposite directions. Those on the left grew to nearly twice their size, while those on the right became slightly smaller.The trained rats also had a lower heart rate, around 280 beats a minute against 314 in untrained rats, while their blood pressure stayed about the same, according to Healthline’s report on the study.Why It MattersDoctors already target these nerve clusters in some patients. Nerve blocks and denervation procedures calm them down to treat irregular heartbeats, angina (chest pain from poor blood flow to the heart) and stress-induced “broken-heart” syndrome. Dr. Augusto Coppi, the study’s lead author, said in the University of Bristol’s statement that the clusters work like the heart’s “dimmer switch.” He said that knowing how they differ on each side could one day help doctors pick the side most likely to benefit.Also Read: Vanessa Trump Recovers From 'Very Invasive' Breast Cancer, Reveals Early Sign Of The DiseaseThis was a rat study. Dr. Coppi himself said in the same statement that the findings are early-stage and that clinical studies would need to follow. The team still has to show how these changes affect the way the heart actually works. They plan to test larger animals and eventually people, using noninvasive markers so no surgery is needed.So this is not a new reason to change anyone’s treatment. It is a clue, not a cure.         The advice itself is old and well proven. The World Health Organization recommends that adults aged 18 to 64 do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity. Brisk walking, swimming and cycling all count. WHO data also shows that about a third of adults worldwide still don’t do enough.If you have a heart condition, get chest pain, or take heart medicines, check with your doctor before starting a new routine. For everyone else, the message is simple. Your heart is not the only thing that changes when you work out. The nerves that control it may change too.

exercise may rewire heart nerves, study finds, offering new clues to heart health

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