EFEITO DO EXERCÍCIO AGUDO NA ATIVIDADE DO CORPO CAROTÍDEO EM INDIVÍDUOS COM TRANSTORNO DE ANSIEDADE CRÔNICA

Abstract

Anxiety disorders, which are among the main causes of psychological distress worldwide, are manifested by changes in the way the brain uses oxygen. This study investigated how a single session of aerobic exercise affects the activity of the carotid body, a structure believed to be overactive in anxious individuals, in people diagnosed with Chronic Anxiety Disorder (CAD). The study sought to understand whether acute physical exercise can modulate the function of this chemical receptor. This is a quantitative experimental study that evaluated two groups of 8 volunteers each (a healthy group and another with CAD), selected by convenience and equally divided. The participants performed the Hamilton test and the IPAQ, in addition to undergoing measurements that included transient hypoxia tests with pure nitrogen in room air, seeking to assess the difference in stimulation of the carotid body (ΔSTIMULUS) and a submaximal exercise test. These evaluations were conducted before and after a single session of acute physical exercise, all performed on the same day. The results of the analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the comparison of the Bruce protocol stages (p = 0.049) and the Hamilton scale (p = 0.001). In the ventilatory evaluations, ΔSTIMULUS presented a p = 0.327, while in the group with Chronic Anxiety Disorder (CAD) p = 0.566. The p group = 0.729, p exercise = 0.437 and 0 p group X p exercises = 0.695. Thus, the study did not demonstrate a relevant change in the activity of the carotid body after acute exercise when comparing the two groups.