EFFECT OF TREADMILL EXERCISE ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN FIRST YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS.

Background: The transition into medical school presents a significant source of stress for first-year medical students, potentially impacting their cardiovascular health. This study examines the effects of treadmill exercise on heart rate variability (HRV), a non-invasive measure of autonomic nervous system function, to understand the impact of physical stress on this demographic. Methods: Fifty first-year medical students from Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Postgraduate Institute participated in this study, which involved baseline and post-treadmill exercise HRV assessments. The exercise protocol aimed to induce sympathetic activation by reaching a heart rate of over 100 per minute. HRV parameters, including Mean heart rate, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio, were measured using an HRV analyzer. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-exercise HRV metrics. Results: Post-exercise HRV analysis revealed significant changes indicative of sympathetic nervous system activation. Notably, Mean heart rate significantly increased (p = 0.04), VLF power percentage and LF power (ms^2) showed significant increases (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively), suggesting heightened sympathetic activity. Conversely, parameters associated with parasympathetic activity, such as HF power, showed no significant change, indicating a stable parasympathetic response to the exercise. Conclusion: Treadmill exercise led to an evident shift towards sympathetic dominance in first-year medical students, as demonstrated by significant changes in HRV parameters. These findings suggest that physical stress from exercise induces a distinct autonomic response, highlighting the need for incorporating physical activity into medical students' routines to manage stress effectively and maintain cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]