Abstract
Eleven men with coronary artery disease were studied to determine whether they would manifest inappropriate coronary vasoconstriction in response to mental stress. Mental stress was induced by having the patient perform difficult mental arithmetic in time with a clicking metronome. Aortic blood pressure and thermodilution coronary sinus blood flow were recorded continuously before and during the mental arithmetic. For the group, heart rate rose from 70 to 82 beats/min, systolic blood pressure rose from 161 to 181 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure rose from 71 to 78 mm Hg. Coronary resistance decreased by 16%. The index of myocardial oxygen consumption rose by 40%, and there was an equivalent rise in coronary sinus blood flow of 41%, with no changes in coronary arteriovenous oxygen difference. Because the increase in myocardial oxygen consumption was accompanied by a proportional increase in coronary sinus blood flow, a decrease in coronary resistance and no change in myocardial oxygen extraction, we conclude that the response of patients with coronary artery disease to at least moderately severe mental stress is not characterized by abnormal coronary vasoconstriction.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
