A mental arithmetic stress test induced significant increases in hematocrit, whole blood viscosity, and noradrenaline in healthy young men but not in women (p<0.05 for gender differences).
Cross-Sectional (n=20)
Does a mental arithmetic stress test induce gender-specific differences in sympathetic and hemorrheological responses in healthy young subjects?
Mental stress induces significant increases in sympathetic activity and blood viscosity in young men but not women, potentially contributing to gender differences in cardiovascular risk.
p-value: p=<0.05
OBJECTIVE: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system may increase hematocrit (Hct), whole blood viscosity (WBV), and possibly cardiovascular risk. The aim was to study gender specific differences of mental stress on sympathetic reactivity and blood rheology. METHODS: Responses in blood pressure, heart rate (HR), Hct, WBV (Bohlin rotational viscosimeter), and plasma catecholamines to a mental arithmetic stress test (MST) were measured in male (n = 10, 23 +/- 3 years, BMI 23 +/- 2 kg/m2) and female (n = 10, 21 +/- 4 years, BMI 24 +/- 2 kg/m2) students. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR increased during MST in men and women, and declined to baseline levels after 15 min of recovery. In men, plasma adrenaline increased by 217% during MST (p < 0.01, ANOVA). and plasma noradrenaline increased by 68% (p < 0.05). Hct and WBV at low shear rates (0.5 and 1.1 l/s) increased as well (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). In women, the increase in plasma adrenaline averaged 118% during MST (p < 0.05) while plasma noradrenaline (-3%, p = 0.38), Hct, and WBV at all shear rates remained unchanged. Men and women differed in A adrenaline (p < 0.05), A noradrenaline (p = 0.01), delta Hct (p < 0.05), and delta WBV (p < 0.05). A Hct tended to correlate with delta SBP (r= 0.60, p = 0.07), A DBP (r = 0.57. p = 0.09). and delta HR (r = 0.50, p = 0.14), and correlated significantly with A noradrenaline (r = 0.66, p < 0.05) in men only. Multiple regression analysis showed that gender independently explained 22% of the change in Hct during mental stress. CONCLUSION: Data suggest gender specific differences in sympathetic and hemorrheological responses to mental stress in healthy young subjects. In men, sympathetic responses were related to hemorrheological responses, but not in women. It may be speculated whether such differences in stress responses may contribute to lower cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women than in men.
Arnljot Flaa Anne Elisabeth Ross (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young subjects (n=20). Mental arithmetic stress test vs. Men vs Women was evaluated on Changes in plasma catecholamines, hematocrit, and whole blood viscosity (p=<0.05). A mental arithmetic stress test induced significant increases in hematocrit, whole blood viscosity, and noradrenaline in healthy young men but not in women (p<0.05 for gender differences).
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