Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Recovery in Cold Pressor Hyper-Reactor Young Males

Introduction: The exaggerated cardiovascular response (hyper-reaction) to the cold pressor test (CPT) can predict whether hypertension will develop later on. The study aims to assess the profile blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) changes during CPT and the recovery from the pressor stimulus. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-four participants were asked to immerse their left hand in chilly water for 2 min, and the pressor response in terms of BP and HR changes during the ice-cold water immersion test and for 3 min (at 1-min interval) after the cessation of the test was recorded. The result of BP changes was expressed as a mean BP (MBP). The volunteer responses to CPT were classified as hyper-reactants if the change in BP (∆systolic BP/∆diastolic BP) was ≥22/18 mm. Results: The MBP of the systolic hyper-reactor (SHR) and diastolic hyper-reactor (DHR) volunteers was sustained at significantly high levels (by 20% and 25%, respectively) for a longer time (3 min) after the end of CPT relative to normal reactors (NRs). There was no change in MBP upon CPT in NR within the DHR group. The same general behavior was observed with heart rate in both groups (i.e. SHR and DHR). Conclusion: The hyper-reactors are characterized by an exaggerated increase in MBP and HR and a longer time for the MBP and HR to return to their baseline levels.