Relationship between self-perceived stress and blood pressure.
OBJECTIVE
The importance of stress in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is controversial. In this study we wanted to evaluate the relation between self-perceived stress and the blood pressure (BP) in a asymptomatic healthy population.


METHODS
A total of 1666 guests (mean +/- s.d. age 50 +/- 16 years) attending the air show AIR94 in Buochs, Switzerland volunteered to participate in a cross-sectional study. Using a self-administered questionnaire and visual analogue scales the individual stress perception and other cardiovascular risk behaviours/factors were assessed. BP, body weight, height, and the waist:hip ratio were measured.


RESULTS
Individual stress perception was inversely related with the systolic BP (SBP) (r = -0.12, P < 0.001). The relationship was found in both men and women and was independent of age and/or body weight. No relation was found between the diastolic BP (DBP) and stress perception. Subjects with high normal BP according the JNC V classification showed a lower stress perception than did subjects with normal BP. In a multiple regression model the stress score was fourth most predictive of the SBP after body mass index, waist:hip ratio, and age followed by alcohol and fat intake.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study we found an inverse association between the self-perceived stress and SBP. We suggest that the inverse association between BP and the self-perceived stress reflects a neuroendocrine and biochemical setting characterized by inadequate stress handling associated with a higher fat and alcohol intake and more abdominal fat tissue leading to a higher BP. Our data suggest that stress denial in combination with abdominal obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking may be proxy for a high stress level.
Suter
P M
PM
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Policlinic, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Maire
R
R
Holtz
D
D
Vetter
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires