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Awareness of hypertension increases blood pressure and sympathetic responses to cold pressor test

M Rostrup1, S E Kjeldsen, I K Eide

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Medical School, Ulleval Hospital, Norway.

American Journal of Hypertension
|December 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Knowing about high blood pressure significantly elevates it and increases sympathetic responses. This highlights the importance of unawareness in essential hypertension studies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Essential hypertension is a complex condition influenced by various factors.
  • Understanding the psychological impact on physiological responses is crucial for accurate research.
  • Previous studies may have been confounded by participants' awareness of their blood pressure status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of awareness of hypertension on blood pressure.
  • To assess the effects of hypertension awareness on sympathetic nervous system responses.
  • To evaluate the influence of psychological stress from hypertension knowledge on physiological markers.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving young men with previously unknown elevated blood pressure.
  • Two groups: one informed about high blood pressure via letter, the other receiving a neutral letter.
  • Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma catecholamines (epinephrine, dopamine) during rest and cold pressor test.

Main Results:

  • Informed group showed significant increases in mean blood pressure post-intervention.
  • Greater increases in heart rate and plasma epinephrine during the cold pressor test in the informed group.
  • Lower plasma dopamine levels observed in the group aware of their hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Psychological stress from hypertension awareness can acutely elevate blood pressure and sympathetic activity.
  • Subject awareness of blood pressure status is a critical confounder in essential hypertension research.
  • Future studies on sympathetic function in hypertension should ideally recruit unaware participants.

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