Diastolic Blood Pressure Recovery Research Articles

Blood pressure response during exercise testing in individuals with and without hypertension: The value of the recovery phase.

Hypertension and exercise testing are essential for cardiovascular risk assessment. However, an exact description of blood pressure (BP) in patients with a hypertensive response during exercise (HRE), especially in the recovery phase is lacking. Herein, we aimed to analyse BP and heart rate during exercise testing and recovery in patients with an HRE. 800 patients aged 17-90 with an HRE during a standardized bicycle ergometry test were recruited. The BP behaviour during exercise testing was correlated with clinical data. Furthermore, data were analysed according to the presence of pre-existent hypertension. Of the 800 patients included in this study 497 (62%) were previously diagnosed with hypertension. Analysis of covariance showed a significantly faster systolic (β [95% CI] 8.0 [4.9-11.1]) and diastolic (2.4 [0.4-4.4]) BP recovery 3 min after maximal exercise in patients without hypertension in univariable models. These results remained robust in fully adjusted models taking into account age, sex, body mass index, cardiovascular disease, and antihypertensive treatment for systolic (5.3 [1.2-9.4]) and diastolic BP (4.5 [1.9-7.0]). Furthermore, patients with hypertension displayed higher systolic BP during maximal exercise in univariable (3.8 [0.1-7.5]) and fully adjusted (5.5 [1.1-10.0]) models. There was no difference in maximum diastolic BP between groups. In this large cohort study, patients without hypertension showed a faster systolic and diastolic BP recovery and lower maximal systolic BP compared to patients with hypertension. Overall, this study provides new insights into cardiovascular health during recovery phase.

Physiological and psychological recovery in two pure forests: interaction between perception methods and perception durations.

The forest experience is good for people's physical and mental health. However, few studies on the effects of pure forest based on the duration and way of experience on people's physical and mental recovery. In this study, we took 180 first-year college students as research objects and conducted experiments in Pinus sylvestris and Betula platyphylla and the control group of grass plot. The changes of physiological and psychological indexes of the subjects were compared by two perception methods (onsite perception, video perception) and three perception duration (10 min, 20 min, 30 min). The results indicated that: (1) Differences between the two pure forests were mainly reflected in short-term recovery of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and long-term recovery of total mood disorder (TMD). (2) Video perception was more conducive to short-term recovery of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). (3) Viewing the Pinus sylvestris for 20 min in different ways was the best way to relieve stress. It is suggested that, Pinus sylvestris can be used as the rehabilitation perception material, and reasonable path length or perception time can be selected for landscape construction in future. These results can provide scientific reference for landscape design based on forest health and environmental perception.

Walking Pace Induced Cardiovascular Recovery in School Sport- Aversive Students: Role of Gender

The importance of School sporting activities on psychomotor, cognitive and overall health of students has been documented. The aim of the study was to investigate the gender influence of walking pace on cardiovascular recovery in school sport aversive students. 30 students that consisted of 16 males and 14 females were recruited for the study using respondent driven sampling out of a pool of 50 students after satisfying the inclusion criteria. They were made to walk through the treadmill at 2.7km/h (low walking pace), 4.4 km/h (medium walking pace) and 5.5km/h (high walking pace) for 3 minutes. Blood pressure, pulse rate and SP02 were measured before, immediately after and 1 minute post recovery. High walking pace induced recovery systolic blood pressure was significantly elevated in females when compared to male. Recovery diastolic blood pressure, recovery mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), recovery pulse pressure and recovery pulse rate were higher at high walking pace in females than males. Under high, medium and low walking paces, shock index and pulse rate were elevated in females than males. In conclusion, school sport aversive females showed lower cardiovascular recovery than their male counterparts.

Slower speed of blood pressure recovery after standing is associated with accelerated brain ageing: Evidence from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

BackgroundImpaired recovery of blood pressure (BP) in response to standing up is a prevalent condition in older individuals. We evaluated the relationship between the early recovery of hemodynamic responses to standing and brain health in adults over 50. MethodsParticipants from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (n=411; age 67.6 ± 7.3 years; 53.4 % women) performed an active stand challenge while blood pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored. The recovery of these parameters was determined as the slope of the BP and HR response, following the initial drop/rise after standing. We have previously reported a novel and validated measure of brain ageing using MRI data, which measures the difference between biological brain age and chronological age, providing a brain-predicted age difference (brainPAD) score. ResultsSlower recovery of systolic and diastolic BP was found to be significantly associated with higher brainPAD scores (i.e., biologically older brains), where a one-year increase in brainPAD was associated with a decrease of 0.02 mmHg/s and 0.01 mmHg/s in systolic and diastolic BP recovery, respectively, after standing. Heart rate (HR) recovery was not significantly associated with brainPAD score. ConclusionThese results demonstrate that slower systolic and diastolic BP recovery in the early phase after standing is associated with accelerated brain ageing in older individuals. This suggests that the BP response to standing, measured using beat-to-beat monitoring, has the potential to be used as a marker of accelerated brain ageing, relying on a simple procedure and devices that are easily accessible.

Dysregulated responses to stress and weight in people with type 2 diabetes

ObjectiveDysregulated stress responsivity has been linked with weight gain in healthy samples. However, the relationship between disturbances in stress-related biology and changes in weight in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is unclear. MethodA total of 66 participants with T2D underwent laboratory stress-testing in 2011–2012. Cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses to standardised mental stress were assessed, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured. Participants self-reported information on BMI in 2019. Associations between stress-related biological responses and BMI at follow-up were modelled using linear regression adjusting for age, sex, resting biological levels and baseline BMI. ResultsBlunted diastolic blood pressure reactivity (B = −0.092, 95% CI -0.177; −0.007, p = 0.034) as well as poorer systolic blood pressure (B = −0.050, 95% CI -0.084; − 0.017, p = 0.004), diastolic blood pressure (B = −0.068, 95% CI -0.132; −0.004, p = 0.034) and heart rate (B = -0.122, 95% CI -0.015;-0.230, p = 0.027) recovery post-stress were associated with higher BMI 7.5 years later. Greater interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (B = 16.93, 95% CI 6.20; 27.67, p = 0.003) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 reactivity (B = 0.04, 95% CI 0.002; 0.084, p = 0.041) were associated with weight gain. No significant associations were detected for interleukin-6 or laboratory cortisol measures. ConclusionDisturbances in stress-related biology may promote weight gain in people with T2D. Research with a larger sample size is required to explore associations between stress responsivity and BMI in people with T2D.

Adolescent girls' cardiovascular responses to peer rejection: exploring the impact of early life stress.

Detrimental effects of early life stress on cardiovascular health are evident in adolescence. Cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in response to interpersonal stress may be a mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate if adolescent girls with higher early life stress demonstrated greater cardiovascular reactivity and slower recovery to peer rejection. A sample of 92 adolescent girls (age: M = 13.24) self-reported early life stressors. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were continuously measured before, during, and after a laboratory peer rejection paradigm. Counter to hypotheses, adolescent girls with higher early life stress had lower, not higher, HR during the recovery period. Early life stress was not associated with SBP or DBP recovery. Additionally, early life stress was not associated with SBP, DBP, or HR reactivity. Future research is needed to assess if blunted cardiovascular reactivity to interpersonal rejection during adolescence is a mechanism linking early life stress and later cardiovascular disease risk in women.

148 ORTHOSTATIC HEMODYNAMICS AND ACCELERATED BRAIN AGING

Abstract Background Impaired recovery of blood pressure (BP) in response to standing up is a prevalent condition in older individuals. We evaluated the relationship between the recovery of hemodynamic responses to standing and brain health in adults over 50. Methods Participants from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) (n=418) performed an active stand challenge while BP and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored. The recovery of these parameters was determined as the difference in measurements taken at 10 s and 20 s after standing, in relation to the baseline value. The difference between biological and chronological brain age was determined using BrainPAD, a novel validated measure of accelerated brain ageing. The data was fitted using linear regression models, using age, sex, weight, height, cardiac disease prevalence, antihypertensive and antidepressant use, smoking status, standing speed and pulse wave velocity as covariates. Results Adjusting for age and sex only, each additional year of BrainPAD was associated with a –0.35 mmHg (95% CI: –0.54 – –0.16, P<.001) change in orthostatic systolic BP recovery. In a fully adjusted model, the regression coefficient was estimated at –0.29 mmHg (95% CI: –0.48 – –0.10, P<.01). Similarly, a year increase in BrainPAD was associated with –0.21 mmHg (95% CI: –0.32– –0.10, P<0.001) and –0.14 mmHg (95% CI: –0.25– –0.04, P<.01) change in orthostatic diastolic BP recovery, for minimally and fully adjusted models respectively. HR recovery was not significantly associated with BrainPAD. Conclusion These results demonstrate that impaired systolic and diastolic BP recovery after standing is associated with accelerated brain aging in older individuals. This suggests that the BP response to standing, measured using beat-to-beat monitoring, has potential to be used as a marker of accelerated brain aging, relying on a simple procedure and devices that are easily accessible for clinical use.

Associations between general trait anxiety, trait social anxiety and cardiovascular responses to social and non-social stressors

ObjectiveThe present study sought to examine whether anxiety propensity dimensions (general trait anxiety vs. trait social anxiety) interact with stressor types (tasks with social vs. non-social challenges) to determine cardiovascular stress responses. MethodsA 2 × 3 mixed-factorial experimental design was employed. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Social Performance and Social Interaction Anxiety Scales were administered to 233 participants, who engaged in a stress task with either social or non-social challenges during which their cardiovascular data were continuously collected. ResultsGeneral trait anxiety negatively predicted heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reactivity (β = −0.16, p = 0.001; β = −0.17, p = 0.001; β = −0.18, p < 0.001), and positively predicted HR, SBP, DBP recovery (β = 0.16, p = 0.012; β = 0.15, p = 0.014; β = 0.15, p = 0.011), regardless of stress types. Social performance anxiety (β = −0.23, p = 0.002; β = −0.25, p = 0.001; β = −0.24, p = 0.001) and social interaction anxiety (β = −0.22, p < 0.001; β = −0.25, p < 0.001; β = −0.22, p < 0.001) only negatively predicted HR, SBP, DBP reactivity to the stress task with social challenges. No associations were observed between trait social anxiety and cardiovascular recovery from the stress task with social or non-social challenges. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that different trait anxiety dimensions interact with stressor types in affecting cardiovascular stress responses, which have different health implications.

Altitude Cardiomyopathy Is Associated With Impaired Stress Electrocardiogram and Increased Circulating Inflammation Makers

Many sea-level residents suffer from acute mountain sickness (AMS) when first visiting altitudes above 4,000 m. Exercise tolerance also decreases as altitude increases. We observed exercise capacity at sea level and under a simulated hypobaric hypoxia condition (SHHC) to explore whether the response to exercise intensity represented by physiological variables could predict AMS development in young men. Eighty young men from a military academy underwent a standard treadmill exercise test (TET) and biochemical blood test at sea level, SHHC, and 4,000-m altitude, sequentially, between December 2015 and March 2016. Exercise-related variables and 12-lead electrocardiogram parameters were obtained. Exercise intensity and AMS development were investigated. After exposure to high altitude, the count of white blood cells, alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin were increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in exercise time and metabolic equivalents (METs) between SHHC and high-altitude exposures (7.05 ± 1.02 vs. 7.22 ± 0.96 min, P = 0.235; 9.62 ± 1.11 vs. 9.38 ± 1.12, P = 0.126, respectively). However, these variables were relatively higher at sea level (8.03 ± 0.24 min, P < 0.01; 10.05 ± 0.31, P < 0.01, respectively). Thus, subjects displayed an equivalent exercise tolerance upon acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. The trends of cardiovascular hemodynamics during exercise under the three different conditions were similar. However, both systolic blood pressure and the rate–pressure product at every TET stage were higher at high altitude and under the SHHC than at sea level. After acute exposure to high altitude, 19 (23.8%) subjects developed AMS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that METs under the SHHC {odds ratio (OR) 0.355 per unit increment [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.159−0.793], P = 0.011}, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at rest under SHHC [OR 0.893 per mmHg (95%CI 0.805−0.991), P = 0.030], and recovery DBP 3 min after exercise at sea level [OR 1.179 per mmHg (95%CI 1.043−1.333), P = 0.008] were independently associated with AMS. The predictive model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.886 (95%CI 0.803−0.969, P < 0.001). Thus, young men have similar exercise tolerance in acute exposure to high altitude and to SHHC. Moreover, AMS can be predicted with superior accuracy using characteristics easily obtainable with TET.

Exercise-related blood pressure response is related to autonomic modulation in young adults: A new extension study.

BACKGROUND: The delayed blood pressure recovery (BPR) at post-exercise has been in association with a major risk of cardiovascular disease and death.OBJECTIVE: The study focused on evaluating the systolic and diastolic blood pressure recovery (SBPR, DBPR) and the autonomic modulation following treadmill exercise in healthy young adults. Although considerable literature had been published about BPR and HRV, the association between BPR and ultra-short-term HRV has not yet been completely described.METHODS: Fifteen subjects performed exercise with three different intensities on a treadmill, the speed was 6 km/h, 9 km/h, 12 km/h, respectively. SBP and DBP was measured per 30 s in each trial. The synchronous 5-min electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded and HRV parameters including SDNN, RMSSD, SDNN/RMSSD, SD1, SD2 and SD1/SD2 were calculated every 30 s periods in 5 min ECG signals to match the corresponding BPR.RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values and the Bland-Altman plots indicated good consistency and repeatability between HRV and HRV at three post-exercise trials, with most ICC values 0.75. Besides, SBPR and DBPR generally decreased and returned to the Rest level in 5 mins. The Spearman correlation coefficients showed strong relationships between BPR and HRV sympathetic-vagal balance parameters, i.e., ratio SDNN/RMSSD and ratio SD1/SD2.CONCLUSIONS: These observations represented a new insight into the cardiovascular regulation at post-exercise, which could contribute to physical exercise areas in the future.

The cross-sectional association between diabetes and orthostatic hypotension in community-dwelling older people.

Orthostatic hypotension is a recognized complication of diabetes, but studies examining prevalence in diabetes are limited. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of orthostatic hypotension and the pattern of orthostatic BP response in a cohort of people with diabetes aged ≥50 years, embedded within the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥20mmHg or drop in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥10mmHg at 30s after standing. Diabetes was defined by self-report but cross-checked against HbA1c and medication records. Multilevel mixed effects linear regression models were used to compare orthostatic BP in people with and without diabetes. Some 3222 people were included, 7% (213 of 3222) of whom had diabetes. Prevalence of orthostatic hypotension in the group with diabetes was 22% (46 of 213) vs. 13% in those without diabetes; χ2 = 12.43; P < 0.001. Multilevel models demonstrated prolonged recovery of DBP in people with diabetes, with only 41% (87 of 213) returning to baseline by 60s. Logistic regression models demonstrated that diabetes was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of orthostatic hypotension (odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.30-2.59; P=0.001) and this remained robust after controlling for covariates. Over one-fifth of older people with diabetes had orthostatic hypotension. Recovery of DBP is related to dynamic changes in total peripheral resistance and impairment of this baroreflex-mediated response may explain the higher prevalence in diabetes. Given the prognostic implications when co-existing with diabetes, orthostatic hypotension may represent a potentially modifiable risk factor for adverse outcomes in late-life diabetes.

Body mass index in relation to cardiovascular recovery from psychological stress among trauma-exposed women.

Delayed cardiovascular recovery has been associated with greater heart disease risks. However, relative to stress reactivity, cardiovascular recovery has been understudied. Further, few studies have examined associations of recovery with modifiable factors that might inform efforts to enhance recovery. The focus of the present study was whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with recovery following two stress tasks (speech and mental arithmetic). Based on the conceptualization that obesity may lead to impaired post-stress recovery, we also examined whether higher BMI accounted for previously reported associations between elevated PTSD symptoms and delayed recovery. The sample consisted of 50 trauma-exposed civilian women ages 19-49 (M±SD = 30 ± 8). The stress tasks were followed by 15-min post-task rest periods. Cardiovascular recovery was assessed as percentage return to baseline; the recovery measures consisted of heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). PTSD severity was based on structured interview. Higher BMI was associated with significantly less CO recovery from the speech task and less HR recovery from mental arithmetic. Higher BMI was associated with more SBP recovery from the math task, but was not associated with DBP recovery. The indirect effects of BMI in the PTSD/CO recovery relationship based on the Sobel test of mediation were significant. These results partially support the hypotheses that BMI is associated with cardiovascular recovery and that associations of PTSD with recovery may be mediated by BMI.

High-approach and low-approach positive affect influence physiological responses to threat and anger

Positive affect has been related to faster cardiovascular recovery from stress. Although the family of positive affective states is diverse, no study examined whether high-approach positive affect (e.g., desire) has a different impact on peripheral physiological processes than more frequently studied low-approach positive affect (e.g., amusement). Building upon prior work on emotions and motivation, we expected that after controlling for arousal and valence, positive affect with higher motivational intensity would facilitate weaker recovery when compared to positive affect with lower motivational intensity. Across two experiments (N = 179 for Study 1, N = 220 for Study 2), we measured cardiovascular, respiratory, and electrodermal responses to positive stimuli that differed in approach intensity. We measured responses during recovery from stress and during reactivity to threat and anger. These studies partially replicated previous findings regarding the soothing function of positive affect (e.g., in respect to diastolic blood pressure recovery and reactivity). However, we found that high-approach and low-approach positive affect produced comparable effects. In summary, these findings suggest that positive valence rather than motivational intensity produces the main soothing effect on peripheral physiology.

A Preliminary Study of the Relationship between Perceived Racism and Cardiovascular Reactivity and Recovery in Native Hawaiians

Native Hawaiians, compared to other ethnic groups in Hawai‘i, have significantly higher mortality rates and die at a younger average age from cardiovascular disease (CVD). This may be partially explained by elevated cardiovascular responses to racial stressors. Our study examined the degree to which blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) reactivity and recovery, and ratings of subjective distress to racial stressors, differ as a function of Native Hawaiian college students’ levels of perceived racism. This study had three phases. Phase 1 involved the development of a blatant and subtle racial stressor. Phase 2 involved assigning 132 students into high- or low-perceived racism groups based on scores on two perceived interpersonal racism measures. Phase 3 involved a psychophysiology laboratory experiment conducted with 35 of the 132 students. BP, HR, and subjective distress were measured during exposure to the blatant and subtle racial stressors. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) recovery following exposure to both stressors was significant for both groups. Although not significant, three trends were observed among the high-perceived racism group, which included: (1) greater reactivity to exposure to the subtle stressor than to the blatant stressor, (2) incomplete HR recovery following exposure to both stressors, and (3) incomplete SBP and diastolic blood pressure recovery following exposure to the subtle stressor. Participants also reported significantly greater subjective distress following exposure to the blatant than to the subtle stressor. Specific interventions, such as increased self-awareness of physiological responses to racial stressors, targeted at at-risk individuals are necessary to reduce a person’s risk for CVD.

Heart rate recovery and diastolic blood pressure ratio on the treadmill test predict an induction and recurrence of vasovagal syncope.

Background/AimsThe induction and recurrence of syncope is a concerning situation that could be unpredicted in the vasovagal syncope (VVS). We investigated a simple predictor for the induced and recurrent VVS during Head-Up table-tilt Test (HUT) and clinically follow-up.MethodsThe 143 consecutive patients with VVS (age 31 ± 19 years, 33 male) who referred by a cardiologist or neurologist and had undergone an echocardiogram, HUT, and a treadmill exercise test (TMT) were recruited and clinically follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups based on the result of HUT and TMT. The data was analyzed and compared between VVS patients and control 141 patients without VVS who were enrolled in the same study period (age 40 ± 5 years, 117 male).ResultsThe heart rate recovery (HRR), recovery systolic blood pressure (RecSBP), recovery diastolic blood pressure (RecDBP), HRR/RecSBP and HRR/RecDBP were significantly different between controls and VVS during the TMT. Within VVS, even if, baseline characteristics were similar between negative and positive HUT (n = 92 vs. n = 51). HRR (31 ± 10 vs. 35 ± 10), HRR/RecSBP (0.24 ± 0.09 vs. 0.28 ± 0.09) and HRR/RecDBP (0.49 ± 0.18 vs. 0.58 ± 0.19) were significantly different between negative and positive HUT results. Especially, HRR/RecSBP and HRR/RecDBP were significantly correlated with induced syncope with a sensitivity and specificity ([60%, 83%] cut-off, 0.31; [72%, 80%] cut-off, 0.63). In the Cox regression, HRR/RecDBP were significantly associated with recurrence of VVS with hazard ratio of 3.29 (confidence interval, 0.95 to 11.3; p = 0.049).ConclusionsHRR/RecDBP may be a useful predictor for induction during HUT and recurrence during follow-up in the VVS.

KEBUGARAN JASMANI DAN WAKTU PEMULIHAN TEKANAN DARAH ATLET BOLA BASKET PUTRA PUSAT PENDIDIKAN DAN LATIHAN OLAHRAGA PELAJAR (PPLOP) JAWA TENGAH DENGAN PEMBERIAN MINUMAN SARI BIT MERAH (BETA VULGARIS)DAN TERONG BELANDA (CYPHOMANDRA BETACEA SENDTN)

Background: The maximum performance an athlete achieves is determined by health factors, fitness, and transition phase/recovery. The recovery period is the body's energy restoration, and muscle tissue repair after exercise. Competition in the sport, making athletes look for supplements that can extend endurance, speed recovery, and improve the appearance of athletes. Consumption of bits regularly can help exercise longer without feeling fatigue and improve the ability to do business with high intensityObjective: Knowing the physical fitness and time of blood pressure basketball men’s athlete student center for training and sport exercise (PPLOP) of central java with drink red beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and terong belanda (Cyphomandra betacea Sendtn) juiceMethods: Type of research True Experimental Design with Randomized Repeated Measure Control Group Design design. The respondents of 17 bollabasket athletes were divided into control and treatment groups. Physical fitness (VO2max) is measured twice with a Multistage fitness test, and blood pressure is measured five times with a digital sphgmomanometer before and after exercise. Data analysis with ANOVA Repeated Measure test was controlled by control variable.Results: There was no significant difference of VO2max (p=0,814) in treatment group (49,28 ml/kgBB/min) and control group (46,13 ml/kgBB/min). There was no significant difference in the rate of recovery of systolic blood pressure (p=0.493) in the treatment group (5 minutes) and control group (7.47 minutes). There was no significant difference in the rate of recovery of diastolic blood pressure (p=0.566) in the treatment group (4.75 minutes) and control group (7 minutes).Conclusion: Giving red beetroot and terong belanda juice did not significantly affect in VO2max (p 0,05) and blood pressure recovery time (p 0,05). Increased VO2max and blood pressure recovery time was higher in the treatment group. It is recommended that research be carried out over a longer period of time, larger sample quantities and larger doses.

The Role of Autonomic Function in Exerciseinduced Endogenous Analgesia: A Case-control Study in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis⁄Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Healthy People

Background: Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are unable to activate brain-orchestrated endogenous analgesia (or descending inhibition) in response to exercise. This physiological impairment is currently regarded as one factor explaining postexertional malaise in these patients. Autonomic dysfunction is also a feature of ME/CFS. Objectives: This study aims to examine the role of the autonomic nervous system in exerciseinduced analgesia in healthy people and those with ME/CFS, by studying the recovery of autonomic parameters following aerobic exercise and the relation to changes in self-reported pain intensity. Study Design: A controlled experimental study. Setting: The study was conducted at the Human Physiology lab of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Methods: Twenty women with ME/CFS- and 20 healthy, sedentary controls performed a submaximal bicycle exercise test known as the Aerobic Power Index with continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring. Before and after the exercise, measures of autonomic function (i.e., heart rate variability, blood pressure, and respiration rate) were performed continuously for 10 minutes and self-reported pain levels were registered. The relation between autonomous parameters and self-reported pain parameters was examined using correlation analysis. Results: Some relationships of moderate strength between autonomic and pain measures were found. The change (post-exercise minus pre-exercise score) in pain severity was correlated (r = .580, P = .007) with the change in diastolic blood pressure in the healthy group. In the ME/CFS group, positive correlations between the changes in pain severity and low frequency (r = .552, P = .014), and between the changes in bodily pain and diastolic blood pressure (r = .472, P = .036), were seen. In addition, in ME/CHFS the change in headache severity was inversely correlated (r = -.480, P = .038) with the change in high frequency heart rate variability. Limitations: Based on the cross-sectional design of the study, no firm conclusions can be drawn on the causality of the relations. Conclusions: Reduced parasympathetic reactivation during recovery from exercise is associated with the dysfunctional exercise-induced analgesia in ME/CFS. Poor recovery of diastolic blood pressure in response to exercise, with blood pressure remaining elevated, is associated with reductions of pain following exercise in ME/CFS, suggesting a role for the arterial baroreceptors in explaining dysfunctional exercise-induced analgesia in ME/CFS patients. Key words: Aerobic exercise, aerobic power index, autonomic nervous system, exercise-induced analgesia, exercise-induced hypoalgesia, fibromyalgia, heart rate variability, stress-induced analgesia, pain Pain

Physiological responses to repeated stress in individuals with high and low trait resilience

This study examined individual differences in trait resilience in physiological recovery from, and physiological habituation to, repeated stress (i.e. public speaking). Eighty-two college students were categorized as either high (n=40) or low (n=42) on trait resilience, based on the scores of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Subjective and physiological data were collected from participants across seven laboratory stages: baseline, stress anticipation 1, stress 1, post-stress 1, stress anticipation 2, stress 2, and post-stress 2. Results indicated that high-trait-resilient participants exhibited more complete heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) recovery from the first and second stress anticipation exposures as compared to low-trait-resilient participants. High-trait-resilient participants demonstrated higher resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) coupled with more complete RSA recovery from the first and second stress anticipation exposures as compared to their low-trait-resilient counterparts. Moreover, high-trait-resilient participants exhibited pronounced SBP and DBP habituation across two successive stress anticipation exposures, with greater decreases in SBP and DBP reactivity to recurrent stress anticipation as compared to the low-trait-resilient participants. These findings suggest an adaptive physiological response pattern to recurrent stress in high-trait-resilient individuals.

Characterization of blood pressure and daily stress in Mexican children with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 risk factors

not been elucidated. Aim: To determine if hemodynamic changes during the Valsalva maneuver promote cerebral hypoperfusion as the etiology of syncope and quantify severity with autonomic failure metrics in a case-control trial. Methods: Hemodynamic changes of nine PAH patients were prospectively obtained and compared with 15 age and gender matched healthy controls. Common Valsalva parameters including adrenergic baroreflex sensitivity, pressure recovery time, systolic blood pressure recovery, diastolic blood pressure recovery, mean arterial pressure recovery, and the Valsalva ratio were calculated. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare continuous variables. The primary end point was adrenergic baroreflex sensitivity. Results: PAH patients had lower adrenergic baroreflex sensitivity (9.7 ± 4.6 vs 18.8 ± 9.2 mmHg/second, P = 0.005), longer pressure recovery time (3.6 ± 2.5 vs 1.7 ± 0.8 seconds, P = 0.008), similar SBP recovery (-13 ± 11vs -12 ± 23 mmHg, P = 0.640), less diastolic blood pressure recovery (13 ± 14 vs -1 ± 12 mmHg, P = 0.025), less mean arterial pressure recovery (-5 ± 11 vs 5 ± 17 mmhg, P = 0.048), and a decreased Valsalva ratio (1.25 ± 0.11 vs 1.60 ± 0.22, P b 0.001) compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: All of the significantly different parameters suggest that primary arterial hypertension patients are more susceptible to cerebral hypoperfusion. PAH patients exhibit a susceptibility to syncope similar to a spectrum of patients with intermediate autonomic failure, who typically experience a systolic blood pressure drop of 10-30 mmHg with standing. Grants: NIH P01 HL 108800, NIH K23 HL 098743

Experimental manipulations of social status and stress-induced cardiovascular responses in high and low trait dominant men

The present study investigated the effect of a mismatch between trait dominance and induced status on cardiovascular reactivity to and recovery from a dyadic interaction task. Eighty normotensive men characterized as either high or low in trait dominance engaged in a discussion requiring persuasive behavior either in the context of a high or low induced status position. The outcome of a rigged competition was used as a marker of status. Induced status was found to moderate cardiovascular recovery of dominance groups. High dominant individuals exhibited less complete recovery of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) when placed in a low compared to high status position, whereas recovery of low dominant individuals tended to show greater impairment in a high status position. Results for changes in emotional states also indicate a detrimental effect of incongruous status positions, particularly for high dominant individuals. Subjective experiences did not mediate cardiovascular effects, though.