HRT AND EXERCISE EFFECTS ON CENTRAL ARTERIAL COMPLIANCE

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 全身动脉僵硬的增加与患心脏病的风险更高有关。绝经后，女性患心血管疾病的风险更高，这可能是由于雌激素的丧失。心血管疾病风险的增加可能部分是由于动脉僵硬的增加。激素替代疗法(HRT)和定期锻炼已被证明与较低的心血管疾病风险相关，并可能通过对动脉壁的有利影响而产生保护作用。建议的方案将确定三种不同类型的HRT的效果，以及HRT和运动在改善颈部动脉(颈动脉)僵硬以及改善心脏和神经系统功能方面的综合效果。绝经后妇女将被随机分配到四组中的一组：结合雌激素组、口服雌二醇组、雌激素贴片组或安慰剂组(不服用药物)。3个月后，这些女性将被安排参加一项基于家庭的耐力锻炼计划，该计划包括每天40-45分钟的中等强度步行，每周5-7天。这些妇女将在参加为期3个月的步行计划的同时继续接受HRT。在研究开始和治疗6个月后，将测量颈动脉和心脏的超声图像。这项研究的主要结果将是确定接受HRT和/或锻炼的女性是否表现出动脉僵硬或改善。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Increases in the stiffness of arteries located throughout the body are associated with an higher risk for heart disease. After menopause, women have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease possibly due to the loss of estrogen. The increased risk for cardiovascular disease may be due, in part, to the increase in the stiffness of the arteries. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and regular exercise have been shown to be associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, and may be producing their protective effects through favorable effects on the walls of the artery. The proposed protocol will determine the effects of three different types of HRT and the combined effects of HRT and exercise on improving the stiffness of arteries located in your neck (carotid), as well as on improving the function of your heart and nervous system. Postmenopausal women will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: conjugated estrogen, oral estradiol, estrogen patch, or placebo (no medication). After 3 months, the women will be placed on a home-based endurance-exercise program consisting moderate intensity walking for 40-45 minutes a day, 5-7 days per week. The women will continue to take their HRT while participating in the 3 month walking program. Ultrasound images of the carotid artery and heart will be measured at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of the therapy. The primary outcome of the study will be to determine whether women taking HRT and/or exercise demonstrate an improvement in the stiffness or their arteries.