Abstract
A mild stress such as brief ischemic episodes may protect the heart from a successive and more prolonged myocardial ischemia (ischemic preconditioning). This phenomenon is considered a typical “hormetic mechanism” by which the heart is immunized from pathological insults such as myocardial ischemia. This mechanism is reduced with aging and it may be restored and/or preserved by drugs such as adenosine or nicorandil, a mitochondrial KATP channels, and lifestyle interventions such as physical activity and/or hypocaloric diet. Moreover, since the mechanisms involved in cardiac ischemic preconditioning have been established basic and clinical investigators are encouraged to test several drug in well-controlled animal and human studies in order to prevent and/or restore the age-related reduction of ischemic preconditioning.
Recommended Citation
Abete, Pasquale; Cacciatore, Francesco; Testa, Gianluca; Della-Morte, David; Galizia, Gianluigi; Ferrara, Nicola; and Rengo, Franco
(2010)
"CLINICAL APPLICATION OF ISCHEMIC PRECONDITIONING IN THE ELDERLY,"
Dose-Response: An International Journal: Vol. 8:
Iss.
1, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dose_response/vol8/iss1/9