The Stress-Induced Cardiovascular Reactivity in the Fasting and Fed States of Healthy Young Indian Males

Abstract

Low blood glucose levels have been associated with a hostile behaviour. The individuals who show aggressiveness and hostility are more likely to develop hypertension and cardiac diseases. The future hypertension has been linked with a high cardiovascular reactivity to stress. We have investigated the association of the blood glucose levels with the Cardio Vascular Reactivity (CVR) to stress. Fourty six volunteers were subjected to stress (which was induced by the cold pressor task) in the fasting state and again, half an hour after the ingestion of 75 grams of glucose. The CVR in both conditions was compared in terms of an increase in the heart rate and the blood pressure. The resting pulse was lower and the blood pressure was higher in the fasting condition, as compared to the values which were obtained in the ½ hour post-prandial condition. The CVR to stress was significantly higher in the fasting condition. The increased resting heart rate and the decreased resting blood pressure in the ½ hourPost-Prandial (PP) condition was due to the higher levels of histamine in the post-prandial state. Low blood glucose levels are associated with a higher CVR to stress. This suggests that the persons are prone to develop future hypertension, those with frank hypertension, and the chronic pain sufferers should avoid prolonged fasts, in order to lower their CVR to the stress stimuli which are encountered in the daily life.