title: Stress-induced hemoconcentration of blood cells and lipids in healthy women during acute psychological stress.
abstract: This study examined the effects of psychological stress on hemoconcentration in women. Hematologic and hemodynamic variables were assessed in 17 women before and after a 3-min speech task. Significant changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin levels, red and white blood cell (WBC) count, and calculated plasma volume occurred during psychological stress (all ps < .05). Significant increases were also observed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA; all ps < .05) during stress. After statistically correcting for the hemoconcentration effects of decreased plasma volume during stress, only WBC count and FFA concentration remained significantly elevated during the stress task (p < .006 and p < .05, respectively). In sum, acute stress alters hemoconcentration in women, which in turn can account for most stress-induced changes in lipids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids