Depression, autonomic function, and cardiorespiratory fitness: comment on Hughes, et al. (2010)

Percept Mot Skills. 2011 Feb;112(1):319-21. doi: 10.2466/02.06.15.20.PMS.112.1.319-321.

Abstract

A recent paper by Hughes and colleagues suggested that dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in depressed cardiac patients was partly explained by reduced physical activity and fitness. Other data demonstrate that exercise training and improvements in fitness not only lead to improvements in autonomic function in coronary patients but also reduce depression and depression-related increased mortality.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Physical Fitness / physiology*