Heart Hypertrophy Caused by Obesity and Physical Exercises

  • Sabrina Pereira Zazycki Universidade Estadual de Maringá
  • Célia Regina de Godoy Gomes Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Abstract

The heart is mainly composed of myocytes, blood vessels and collagen interstitial matrix. When these factors are in equilibrium they contribute towards the maintenance of the heart’s form and function. Heart growth after birth mainly occurs through hypertrophy of the cardiomyocyte and the proliferation of interstitial components. This occurs because cardiomyocytes lose their ability to perform complete mitosis resulting in the absence of cell hyperplasia. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, the most efficient mechanism for heart compensation in an overload context, makes adequate heart performance to systemic metabolic demands. In spite of the benefits provided by physical activity, the sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor to approximately 60% of the population in big cities. A fast increase in the number of obese people has been reported during the last decades and obesity turned out to be a public health problem. The present research investigates the occurrences of heart hypertrophy caused by physical exercises and in sedentary and obesity cases

Author Biographies

Sabrina Pereira Zazycki, Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Fisioterapeuta e especialista em Fisiologia pela Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM. E-mail: sabrinazazicki@yahoo.com.br
Célia Regina de Godoy Gomes, Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Docente Dra. do Departamento de Morfologia da Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM. E-mail: crggomes@uem.br
Published
2009-06-08
Section
Artigos de Revisão