E-ISSN 2231-3206 | ISSN 2320-4672
 

Original Research

Online Publishing Date:
22 / 05 / 2017

 


Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle.


Abstract
Background: There is increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in post-menopausal women as compared to pre‑menopausal women. There is an altered autonomic control with a shift toward sympathetic hyperactivity in menopause. Abnormal autonomic activity, behavioral stressors, and estrogen deficiency are related with increased cardiovascular risk. However, the underlying cardiovascular mechanisms in menopause still remain unclear.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine and compare the following parameters indicating cardiovascular sympathetic function status in pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women subjected to three behavioral stress tests: (i) Blood pressure (BP) response to sustained isometric handgrip test, (ii) BP response to cold pressor test, and (iii) BP response to standing from supine position (orthostasis).

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study for which 150 pre-menopausal and 150 post-menopausal women were selected. They underwent three behavioral stress tests of sustained isometric handgrip test, cold pressor test, and orthostatic test. The parameters indicating cardiovascular sympathetic function status were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Z-test.

Results: Diastolic BP (DBP) response to sustained isometric handgrip and systolic BP (SBP) and DBP response to the cold pressor test showed statistically highly significant (P < 0.001) greater rise in post-menopausal women as compared to pre-menopausal women. SBP response to standing from the supine position showed statistically insignificant (P > 0.05) greater fall in post-menopausal women.

Conclusion: Sympathetic hyperactivity in response to behavioral stressors seen in post-menopausal women as compared to pre-menopausal women, suggests that the cardiovascular changes related to estrogen deficiency occurring in menopause may trigger adverse cardiovascular events.

Key words: Menopause; Behavioral Stress; Cardiovascular Response; Estrogen


 
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Pubmed Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2017; 7(10): 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017


Web Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=265526 [Access: March 16, 2024]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2017; 7(10): 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2017), [cited March 16, 2024]; 7(10): 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



Harvard Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle (2017) Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 7 (10), 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



Turabian Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. 2017. Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 (10), 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



Chicago Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. "Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 7 (2017), 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle. "Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 7.10 (2017), 1014-1019. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Ashwini N Patil, Sunita M Handergulle (2017) Influence of menopause on cardiovascular responses to behavioral stressors: A comparative study. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 (10), 1014-1019. doi:10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0514413052017