New research suggests that regular exercise may reprogram the nerves controlling the heart, potentially leading to improved treatments for conditions like irregular heart rhythms and chest pain.
Recent findings from a study conducted by scientists at the University of Bristol in the U.K. indicate that regular exercise may have a profound impact on the nerves that regulate heart function. This research opens the door to new treatment possibilities for common cardiovascular issues, including irregular heart rhythms, chest pain, angina, and stress-related “broken-heart” syndrome.
The study, which involved lab rats subjected to a 10-week exercise regimen, revealed that moderate exercise does not uniformly influence the heart’s nerve control system. Instead, it produces distinct and opposing changes on the left and right sides of the body—a phenomenon that researchers assert has largely gone unnoticed until now.
“The discovery points to a previously hidden left–right pattern in the body’s ‘autopilot’ system that helps run the heart,” said Dr. Augusto Coppi, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer in veterinary anatomy at the University of Bristol. “This could help explain why some treatments work better on one side than the other and, in the future, help doctors target therapies more precisely and effectively,” he added.
After the 10 weeks of aerobic exercise, researchers examined the heart control nerves in the rats and observed notable left–right differences that were absent in their inactive counterparts. On the right side, the nerve hub responsible for sending “go faster” signals to the heart exhibited a significant increase in nerve cell count, suggesting enhanced wiring. Conversely, on the left side, the number of nerve cells did not increase as markedly; instead, the existing cells grew considerably larger, indicating a different adaptation mechanism.
The study’s findings suggest that exercise reshapes the heart’s nerve control system in a side-specific manner, rather than affecting both sides equally. This understanding could enable healthcare providers to better target treatments for patients who are unable to exercise or whose symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes.
Researchers likened the nerve clusters, known as the stellate ganglia, to a “dimmer switch” that fine-tunes the strength of heart stimulation. This fine-tuning is crucial, as overstimulation of these nerves is associated with chest pain and potentially dangerous heart rhythm issues.
While the findings are promising, they are based on animal research and do not yet confirm similar effects in humans. Further studies are necessary to determine whether comparable left–right nerve changes occur in people and whether these changes could elucidate why certain heart treatments are more effective on one side than the other. Such insights could pave the way for more precise, personalized care for conditions like angina and heart rhythm disorders.
The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from University College London, the University of São Paulo, and the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that regular, moderate exercise benefits heart health in ways that scientists are beginning to understand more thoroughly.
As research continues, the potential for exercise to serve as a powerful tool in the management of heart conditions becomes increasingly clear, offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the future, according to Fox News.