Purpose: Authors investigated the effect of a university exam period on blood pressure (BP) and baroreflex-sensitivity (BRS) among healthy students.Materials and methods: Fifty-three healthy normotensive university students participated in the test. BP values and BRS were recorded once during a 14-week long semester and once during a 6-week long exam period with a Finometer device. The time-domain spontaneous BRS in lying position and after standing up was calculated with Nevrokard software. Students were divided into optimal, normal, high-normal and hypertension (HT) groups by BP values. Results: All the BRS values calculated in the exam period were significantly lower compared to the semester period in the same positions. In supine position: (semester vs. exam) up-BRS was 21.9 ± 13.2 ms/mmHg vs. 18.5 ± 11.9 ms/mmHg (p = .013), down-BRS was 22.3 ± 9.3 ms/mmHg vs. 18.4 ± 8.2 ms/mmHg (p = .019). After standing up: (semester vs. exam) up-BRS was 9.3 ± 3.3 ms/mmHg vs. 7.6 ± 3.1 ms/mmHg (p = .02), down-BRS was 9.5 ± 3.6 ms/mmHg vs. 7.0 ± 2.8 ms/mmHg (p < .0001). The number of students decreased in optimal BP group and increased in normal and HT groups in the exam period.Conclusions: A 6-week long exam period had enough stress effect to change cardiovascular parameters towards a higher risk even in healthy young people.
Purpose: Authors investigated the effect of a university exam period on blood pressure (BP) and baroreflex-sensitivity (BRS) among healthy students.Materials and methods: Fifty-three healthy normotensive university students participated in the test. BP values and BRS were recorded once during a 14-week long semester and once during a 6-week long exam period with a Finometer device. The time-domain spontaneous BRS in lying position and after standing up was calculated with Nevrokard software. Students were divided into optimal, normal, high-normal and hypertension (HT) groups by BP values. Results: All the BRS values calculated in the exam period were significantly lower compared to the semester period in the same positions. In supine position: (semester vs. exam) up-BRS was 21.9 ± 13.2 ms/mmHg vs. 18.5 ± 11.9 ms/mmHg (p = .013), down-BRS was 22.3 ± 9.3 ms/mmHg vs. 18.4 ± 8.2 ms/mmHg (p = .019). After standing up: (semester vs. exam) up-BRS was 9.3 ± 3.3 ms/mmHg vs. 7.6 ± 3.1 ms/mmHg (p = .02), down-BRS was 9.5 ± 3.6 ms/mmHg vs. 7.0 ± 2.8 ms/mmHg (p < .0001). The number of students decreased in optimal BP group and increased in normal and HT groups in the exam period.Conclusions: A 6-week long exam period had enough stress effect to change cardiovascular parameters towards a higher risk even in healthy young people.
Authors: David Johannes Hohenschurz-Schmidt; Giovanni Calcagnini; Ottavia Dipasquale; Jade B Jackson; Sonia Medina; Owen O'Daly; Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh; Alfonso de Lara Rubio; Steven C R Williams; Stephen B McMahon; Elena Makovac; Matthew A Howard Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2020-02-27 Impact factor: 4.677