Stress-induced cardiovascular responses to cold pressure test in healthy young subjects

Hypertension is one of the leading diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is manifested by changes in arterial stiffness. Cardiovascular reactivity, especially blood pressure (BP), changes during the cold pressor test (CPT) depending on various factors. Undoubtedly, stress is one of the most important factors. The aim of the study is to investigate the various effects of CPT on cardiovascular responses in healthy young subjects. 56 healthy individuals aged between 21 and 26 years have been investigated. The Cardiovascular responses (BP, heart rate, aortic pulse wave velocity) to CPT were recorded by using the applanation tonometry. The Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were assessed. 32,14%(n=18) of individuals who had showed difference in systolic BP more than 22 mm of Hg and difference in diastolic BP more than 18 mm of Hg after the CPT were defined as hyperreactors. Hyperreactors showed a significantly higher increase in sleep disturbances (P > 0.01) and anxiety when compared to the normoreaktors. The CPT used to diagnose cardiovascular reactivity in young individuals and the assessment of perceived stress can help identify candidates for a future risk of hypertonic disease. Keywords: Cold pressor test; cardiovascular reactivity; applanation tonometry; blood pressure; stress

Blunted cardiovascular reactivity may serve as an index of psychological task disengagement in the motivated performance situations

Challenge and threat models predict that once individuals become engaged with performance, their evaluations and cardiovascular response determine further outcomes. Although the role of challenge and threat in predicting performance has been extensively tested, few studies have focused on task engagement. We aimed to investigate task engagement in performance at the psychological and physiological levels. We accounted for physiological task engagement by examining blunted cardiovascular reactivity, the third possible cardiovascular response to performance, in addition to the challenge/threat responses. We expected that low psychological task engagement would be related to blunted cardiovascular reactivity during the performance. Gamers (N = 241) completed five matches of the soccer video game FIFA 19. We recorded psychological task engagement, heart rate reactivity, and the difference between goals scored and conceded. Lower psychological task engagement was related to blunted heart rate reactivity during the performance. Furthermore, poorer performance in the previous game was related to increased task engagement in the subsequent match. The findings extend existing literature by providing initial evidence that blunted cardiovascular reactivity may serve as the index of low task engagement.

Fatigue Is Associated With Diminished Cardiovascular Response to Anticipatory Stress in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

BackgroundFatigue and psychophysiological reactions to mental stress are known to be problematic in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Currently, studies exploring the relationship between fatigue and cardiovascular reactivity to stress are scarce and inconsistent. The current study aimed to investigate the links between cardiovascular response to mental stress and fatigue in CAD patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS).MethodsThe cross-sectional study investigated 142 CAD patients (85% males, 52 ± 8 years) within 2–3 weeks after recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. Fatigue symptoms were measured using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20-items, while cardiovascular reactivity to stress [i.e., systolic (S) and diastolic (D) blood pressure (ΔBP), and heart rate (ΔHR)] was evaluated during Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). In addition, participants completed psychometric measures, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Type D Scale-14. Multivariable linear regression analyses were completed to evaluate associations between fatigue and cardiovascular response to TSST, while controlling for confounders.ResultsAfter controlling for baseline levels of cardiovascular measures, age, gender, education, heart failure severity, arterial hypertension, smoking history, use of nitrates, anxiety and depressive symptoms, Type D Personality, perceived task difficulty, and perceived task efforts, cardiovascular reactivity to anticipatory stress was inversely associated with both global fatigue (ΔHR: β = –0.238; p = 0.04) and mental fatigue (ΔSBP: β = –0.244; p = 0.04; ΔHR β = –0.303; p = 0.01) as well as total fatigue (ΔSBP: β = –0.331; p = 0.01; ΔHR: β = –0.324; p = 0.01).ConclusionIn CAD patients after ACS, fatigue was linked with diminished cardiovascular function during anticipation of a mental stress challenge, even after inclusion of possible confounders. Further similar studies exploring other psychophysiological stress responses are warranted.