Further evidence for an association between self-reported health and cardiovascular as well as cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress.

In a recent study, the association between cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress and self-reported health was examined. Participants with excellent or good self-reported health exhibited higher cardiovascular reactivity than those who reported fair or poor health. We investigated this association in a population-based cohort of whom 725 men and women, aged 55-60 years, participated in a standardized psychological stress test. We measured continuous blood pressure and heart rate as well as cortisol reactivity. Good subjective health was associated with higher cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to psychological stress. Results of the present study confirm those of the previously reported study showing that greater cardiovascular reactivity may not always be associated with negative health outcomes. In addition, the same holds for cortisol reactivity.