The acute effects of mental arithmetic, cold pressor and maximal voluntary contraction on arterial stiffness in young healthy subjects

Background: Mental stress, dynamic exercise and cold pressor stimulation all increase blood pressure (BP); however, their effects on arterial stiffness are not well described. Methods: Twenty-three young healthy subjects (14 female/9 males), aged 18–30 years (23 ± 3 years), underwent mental arithmetic stress (mental arithmetic test [MAT]), cold presser test (CPT) and dynamic exercise (30% of maximal voluntary contraction [30% MVC]). Blood pressure and indices of arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity (PWV; m/sec) and augmentation index (AIx; %) were measured at baseline, during the intervention (MAT, CPT and 30% MVC), and at 5 min and 10 min after the end of the intervention on separate days within a 3-week period. All values are given as means and standard deviations; statistical analysis was carried out using JMP software (Version 7). Results: During MAT, CPT and 30% MVC there were respective increases in heart rate (HR/min) 27%, 16% and 10% (P < 0.001); systolic BP 16%, 17% and 12% (P < 0.01); diastolic BP 15%, 23% and 15% (P < 0.01); AIx 13%, 29% and 30% (P < 0.05); and PWV 14%, 12% and 16% (P < 0.01). When the model was corrected for HR, systolic BP and diastolic BP the changes both in PWV and AIx remained significant (P < 0.01). Conclusions: MAT, CPT and 30% MVC each increase the indices of arterial stiffness independently of HR and baseline blood pressure levels.