Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension
Essential hypertension is associated with increased sympathetic and diminished parasympathetic activity as well as impaired reactivity to sympathetic stimulation. However, reactivity and recovery from parasympathetic stimulation in hypertension are unknown. We investigated reactivity and recovery to...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/12/2714 |
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| author | Lisa-Marie Walther Roland von Känel Nadja Heimgartner Claudia Zuccarella-Hackl Ulrike Ehlert Petra H. Wirtz |
| author_facet | Lisa-Marie Walther Roland von Känel Nadja Heimgartner Claudia Zuccarella-Hackl Ulrike Ehlert Petra H. Wirtz |
| author_sort | Lisa-Marie Walther |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Essential hypertension is associated with increased sympathetic and diminished parasympathetic activity as well as impaired reactivity to sympathetic stimulation. However, reactivity and recovery from parasympathetic stimulation in hypertension are unknown. We investigated reactivity and recovery to primarily parasympathetic stimulation by Cold Face Test (CFT) in essential hypertension. Moreover, we tested whether chronic stress modulates CFT-reactivity dependent on hypertension status. The CFT was conducted by applying a cold face-mask for 2 min in 24 unmedicated, otherwise healthy hypertensive men and in 24 normotensive controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured repeatedly. Chronic stress was assessed with the Trier-Inventory-for-Chronic-Stress-Screening-Scale. Hypertensives did not exhibit diastolic BP decreases after CFT-cessation (<i>p</i> = 0.59) as did normotensives (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and failed to show HR decreases in immediate response to CFT (<i>p</i> = 0.62) when compared to normotensives (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Systolic BP reactivity and recovery patterns did not differ between hypertensives and normotensives (<i>p</i> = 0.44). Chronic stress moderated HR (<i>p</i> = 0.045) but not BP CFT-reactivity (<i>p</i>′s > 0.64) with chronically stressed normotensives showing similar HR reactivity as hypertensives. Our findings indicate impaired diastolic BP and HR reactivity to and recovery from CFT in hypertensives and a moderating effect of chronic stress on HR reactivity potentially reflecting reduced relaxation ability of the cardiovascular system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:15:37Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:15:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a279d6d0bbc40ab8ebac34e869763612023-11-22T00:51:42ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-06-011012271410.3390/jcm10122714Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential HypertensionLisa-Marie Walther0Roland von Känel1Nadja Heimgartner2Claudia Zuccarella-Hackl3Ulrike Ehlert4Petra H. Wirtz5Biological Work and Health Psychology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyDepartment of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandDivision of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, SwitzerlandBiological Work and Health Psychology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyEssential hypertension is associated with increased sympathetic and diminished parasympathetic activity as well as impaired reactivity to sympathetic stimulation. However, reactivity and recovery from parasympathetic stimulation in hypertension are unknown. We investigated reactivity and recovery to primarily parasympathetic stimulation by Cold Face Test (CFT) in essential hypertension. Moreover, we tested whether chronic stress modulates CFT-reactivity dependent on hypertension status. The CFT was conducted by applying a cold face-mask for 2 min in 24 unmedicated, otherwise healthy hypertensive men and in 24 normotensive controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured repeatedly. Chronic stress was assessed with the Trier-Inventory-for-Chronic-Stress-Screening-Scale. Hypertensives did not exhibit diastolic BP decreases after CFT-cessation (<i>p</i> = 0.59) as did normotensives (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and failed to show HR decreases in immediate response to CFT (<i>p</i> = 0.62) when compared to normotensives (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Systolic BP reactivity and recovery patterns did not differ between hypertensives and normotensives (<i>p</i> = 0.44). Chronic stress moderated HR (<i>p</i> = 0.045) but not BP CFT-reactivity (<i>p</i>′s > 0.64) with chronically stressed normotensives showing similar HR reactivity as hypertensives. Our findings indicate impaired diastolic BP and HR reactivity to and recovery from CFT in hypertensives and a moderating effect of chronic stress on HR reactivity potentially reflecting reduced relaxation ability of the cardiovascular system.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/12/2714hypertensionparasympathetic stimulationCold Face Test (CFT)cardiovascular reactivitychronic stress |
| spellingShingle | Lisa-Marie Walther Roland von Känel Nadja Heimgartner Claudia Zuccarella-Hackl Ulrike Ehlert Petra H. Wirtz Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension Journal of Clinical Medicine hypertension parasympathetic stimulation Cold Face Test (CFT) cardiovascular reactivity chronic stress |
| title | Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension |
| title_full | Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension |
| title_fullStr | Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension |
| title_short | Altered Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from Cold Face Test-Induced Parasympathetic Stimulation in Essential Hypertension |
| title_sort | altered cardiovascular reactivity to and recovery from cold face test induced parasympathetic stimulation in essential hypertension |
| topic | hypertension parasympathetic stimulation Cold Face Test (CFT) cardiovascular reactivity chronic stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/12/2714 |
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