Why the study?
Does chronic stress due to examination preparation alter blood pressure in young normotensive medical students?
Does chronic stress due to examination preparation alter blood pressure in young normotensive medical students?
Chronic stress associated with examination preparation significantly increases diastolic and mean blood pressure in young normotensive individuals.
May link exam stress to diastolic BP rises in normotensives; hypothesis-generating, should not yet change practice.
BACKGROUND: It is known that stress alters mental status and biological processes. Acute mental stress due to stressful interviews increases blood pressure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of chronic stress due to preparation of examination on cardiovascular function. METHODS: The blood pressure of young normotensive medical students (n=55) was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer during a casual (less stressful) period and during the period of preparation for final examinations. Data were analysed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: In the period of preparation for final examinations a significant rise in diastolic and mean blood pressure took place in both sexes (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The aforesaid result may be due to the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex elicited by head down and neck flexed posture (the conventional position of study) for a prolonged time.
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Pramanik et al. (2005) studied this question.
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