The effects of stress on left ventricular ejection fraction.
The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was studied in 17 healthy volunteers with a new ambulatory left ventricular function monitor. Heart rate, EF, and blood pressure measurements were made during rest, a psychiatric stress interview, cold exposure, exercise, and eating. An increase in EF was seen during emotional stress (from 0.45 +/- 0.09 to 0.51 +/- 0.13, P less than 0.001). This increase was comparable to that observed during exercise (0.52 +/- 0.14) and eating (0.52 +/- 0.10, P less than 0.001). In contrast, cold exposure caused a decrease in EF (0.43 +/- 0.13, P less than 0.05). These observations demonstrate the powerful hemodynamic consequences of common behaviors as well as the utility and feasibility of studying such behavioral factors in ambulatory subjects.
Kiess
M C
MC
Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Dimsdale
J E
JE
Moore
R H
RH
Liu
P
P
Newell
J
J
Barlai-Kovach
M
M
Boucher
C A
CA
Strauss
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume