Psychological stress and arterial pulse transit time.
Progress in isolating the psychological factors contributing to the development of arterial hypertension has been retarded by the absence of suitable, non-invasive and continuous measures of significant aspects of cardiovascular activity. Pulse transit time may help to resolve this problem since it reflects changes in arterial elasticity and diastolic blood pressure. A method of recording pulse transit time is described. Significant decreases in pulse transit time were observed in response to a cold pressor test, a video game, a reaction-time task and problem solving, regardless of site of measurement or method of pulse transduction.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D011674:Pulse; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors