title: Examination stress results in altered cardiovascular responses to acute challenge and lower cortisol.
abstract: The present study examined how cardiovascular and salivary cortisol responses varied in response to an acute challenge in medical students under exam stress versus those not under exam stress. One hundred and twenty-nine medical students were randomly assigned to undertake a CO2 inhalation test either prior to an examination period (exam group) or during a regular academic period (non-exam group). Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured for 5 min before and 5 min after the task, and salivary cortisol samples were collected 1 min before and 10 and 30 min after the CO2 inhalation test. Participants also completed a questionnaire measuring self-reported perceived stress. The exam group exhibited significantly higher HR reactivity following the CO2 inhalation test and slower systolic blood pressure (SBP) recovery compared with the non-exam group. The exam group also reported higher perceived stress and higher stress scores were related to higher HR reactivity following CO2 inhalation. Female students across both groups exhibited significantly lower SBP reactivity compared with male students. Salivary cortisol levels were consistently lower in the exam group. These findings indicate that ongoing natural stress alters cortisol secretion and cardiovascular responses in the face of an acute stress challenge.
authors: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Loft
authors: Mark G
authors: MG
authors: Thomas
authors: Keith J
authors: KJ
authors: Petrie
authors: Roger J
authors: RJ
authors: Booth
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Miles
authors: Kavita
authors: K
authors: Vedhara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006854:Hydrocortisone