Kardiovaskulêre reaktiwiteit tydens 'n verskeidenheid laboratorium stressors by mans en dames

Abstract

The influence of various stressors on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure was studied in 15 men and 17 women by means of a non-invasive FINAPRESS apparatus. These parameters were used to express cardiovascular reactivity. The women were tested both in the follicular (day 3-7) and luteal (day 19-24) phase of their menstrual cycle. The cold pressor test, as well as the cognitive stressors (i.e. mental arithmetic-, binary choice-, word-colour conflict- and English word test) displayed a higher systolic blood pressure response in men compared to women, while the change in HR of women · 1as higher than that of men. The noise experiments (white, pink and impulse noise) also showed a higher systolic blood pressure and lower HR change in the case of r. n and the physical bicycle ergometer test resulted in a smaller. systolic and diastolic blood pressure response m men. These results indicate a difference in cardiovascular response to various stressors between men and women. All the stressors (except the cold pressor test) show an enhanced HR during the luteal phase, compared to the follicular phase. During the luteal phase the systolic blood pressure is also more enhanced during the bicycle ergometer-, English word-, binary choice- and impulse noise test. However, the diastolic blood pressure was higher for the follicular phase during all the stressors, except the cold pressor test. These results may indicate a higher cardiovascular reactivity (systolic blood pressure and HR) during the luteal phase, probably due to the influence of progesterone.