Medical Consequences in Young Men of Prolonged Physical Stress with Sleep andEnergy Deficiency

摘要

The medical consequences of sustained military operations have been studied incadets from the Norwegian Military Academy during military training courses with physical activities day and night combined with lack of sleep and food. The increased catecholamine responses to a standardize exercise, downregulation of Beta-receptors and decreased cAMP responses to adrenaline stimulation indicate an adrenergic desensitization. Conjugated catecholamines increased during prolonged exercise but marginally during short term exercise. The increased catecholamine levels during the course were mainly due to physical exercise, whereas alterations in cortisol and growth hormone were partly reversed by extra food, and extra sleep did not have any major influence. Both testicular and adrenal androgens decreased during the course. The decreased levels of gonadotropins and their increased responses to hypothalamic releasing hormone indicate that the decreased secretion of testicular androgens is due to decreased hypothalamic secretion of releasing hormone. The circadian rhythm of all steroid hormones was extinguished during the course in contrast to the increased amplitude of the circadian rhythm of mental performance. In conclusion, these alterations may affect functions which are the basis for the subjects' mental and physical performance.