Volume 25, Issue 2
Assessment of Cardiovascular Reactivity to the Mental Stress in Trained and Sedentary Subjects: Role of catecholamines
Abstract
Psychophysiology and behavioral medicine applied to the study of cardiovascular reactivity may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether a group of trained subjects could face situations of mental stress advantageously with respect to a sedentary group. Two groups of subjects, athletes and sedentary, which were submitted to mental stress tests (Stroop test and mental arithmetic) were studied. Cardiovascular response measuring blood pressure and heart rate and also catecholamines, at rest and post stress, was evaluated. It is concluded that subjects with high athletic training would be less reactive to mental stress which could act as a protective factor against the possible development of cardiovascular disease.
Keywords
mental stress, hypertension, catecholamines, trained, sedentary