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Effect of mental stress on coronary flow velocity reserve in healthy men

Rei Hasegawa1, Masao Daimon, Tomohiko Toyoda

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|June 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Mental stress significantly reduces coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in healthy men, indicating impaired coronary circulation even after the stress event. This effect persisted for at least 30 minutes post-stress.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Mental stress is a known cardiovascular risk factor.
  • The impact of acute mental stress on coronary circulation requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the acute effects of mental stress on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in healthy men.

Main Methods:

  • Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was employed to measure CFVR.
  • A mental stress test was administered to the experimental group.
  • A control group underwent measurements without stress induction.

Main Results:

  • CFVR significantly decreased at 15 and 30 minutes post-mental stress compared to baseline (p <0.001 and p <0.01, respectively).
  • The control group showed no significant changes in CFVR across measurements.
  • Coronary circulation remained impaired for at least 30 minutes after mental stress.

Conclusions:

  • Mental stress acutely impairs coronary circulation in healthy individuals.
  • The observed reduction in CFVR suggests a potential mechanism for stress-induced cardiac events.
  • These findings highlight the importance of managing mental stress for cardiovascular health.

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