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The Effect of Mental Arithmetic Stress on Blood Pressure, ECG and Salivary Cortisol of Asian Smokers  


Abstract Category: Science
Course / Degree: MSc Biotechnology
Institution / University: University of East London, United Kingdom
Published in: 2010


Dissertation Abstract / Summary:

The effect of mental arithmetic stress is known to increase in cortisol, Blood pressure, heart rate and decrease R-R intervals (duration of heart beats) in humans. The effect of arithmetic stress in smokers and non-smokers has been inconsistent. Cortisol is a hormone commonly released during stress and measured from blood sample and more recently from saliva. However, the techniques to use for analysis have yet to be defined. The aims of this project are: i) To measure the effect of mental arithmetic stress on salivary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) of Asian smokers. ii) To compare reliability and accuracy of HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography) and EIA (Enzyme immunoassay) in measuring salivary cortisol.  

10 post graduate male students of Asian ethnicity from UEL were recruited. The study was approved by the School of Health and Biosciences Ethics Committee. 5 smokers (mean±SD age years, height cm and weight kg: 22.6±1.6, 175±3.39, 62.80±11.8 respectively) and 5 non-smokers (23±1.58, 176.40±3.85, 69.40±17.23 respectively) were exposed 10 minutes of mental arithmetic stress task consisted of subtraction (3 digit subtraction out of 4 digits).

Saliva samples (using Salivette), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (using blood pressure monitor Dinamap pro300V) and heart rate were obtained before, during and after the mental arithmetic stress task. R-R intervals were obtained from lead-II of electrocardiogram (ECG) which was printed out before, during and after mental arithmetic stress task. Saliva samples were analysed by HPLC and EIA. 

Smoker showed increase (0.22ng/mL) in level of salivary cortisol at ninth minute of arithmetic stress period compared to non-smokers although baseline cortisol was lower among smokers. In non-smokers, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were increased during mental arithmetic stress task compared to smokers. R-R interval was increased significantly (100 milliseconds) during mental arithmetic stress task in smokers compared to non-smokers (p<0.05).

The salivary cortisol changes suggest that the response of Asian smokers to mental arithmetic stress is higher. Overall HPA (Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal) axis was hyper reactive in smokers compared to non-smokers. The clinical relevance of this study is to question whether smokers may be at more risk for HPA axis disorder and hypertension compared to non-smokers in their future life.


Dissertation Keywords/Search Tags:
Arithmetic stress, ECG, Salivary cortisol

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Submission Details: Dissertation Abstract submitted by Jagdish Suhagiya from United Kingdom on 31-Dec-2010 18:14.
Abstract has been viewed 4102 times (since 7 Mar 2010).

Jagdish Suhagiya Contact Details: Email: jsuhagiya@gmail.com Phone: 07574205006



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