Cardiac output and total peripheral resistance in athletes and in non-athletes at rest

Cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were estimated in 13 non-athletes, in 10 highly trained athletes and in 8 lower-class athletes at rest. HR and BP were found to be lower in both trained groups than in the controls. CO was lower in the top athletes, while it proved to be higher in the lower-class athletes. Total peripheral resistance (TPR) was higher in the top athletes while it was found to be reduced in the lower-class athletes than in the controls. These results indicate that in the maintanance of resting blood pressure level in the physically trained subjects alpha adrenergic mechanisms predominate whereas the share of beta influences is lower, however, this shift is observed only in the highly trained, top-rank endurance athletes.