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Phonocardiographic changes induced by neuropsychic stress.
Physiologie (Bucarest)
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Mental stress significantly alters heart function, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Phonocardiogram changes observed during mental arithmetic tasks may mimic more severe cardiac conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Mental stress is known to affect cardiovascular function.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for interpreting cardiac signals, especially in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cardiovascular and phonocardiographic changes in healthy men during mental stress.
- To assess if these changes could be misinterpreted as pathological cardiac conditions.
Main Methods:
- 21 healthy men (18-45 years) underwent electrocardiograms, phonocardiograms, apexocardiograms, carotid pulse tracings, and blood pressure measurements.
- Measurements were taken before and during timed mental arithmetic tasks.
- Analysis focused on heart rate, blood pressure, and specific phonocardiographic sounds (ejection sound, third and fourth heart sounds).
Main Results:
- Significant increases in heart rate, systolic, and differential blood pressure were observed.
- Phonocardiocardiograms showed increased amplitude/number of early systolic ejection sounds and a prominent fourth sound.
- Third heart sounds diminished; ejection period shortened in adults, while the pre-ejection/ejection period ratio decreased in younger subjects.
Conclusions:
- Mental stress induces significant changes in myocardial contractility and great vessel compliance.
- Observed phonocardiographic abnormalities during mental stress may be misinterpreted as severe cardiac pathology in patients with ischemic heart disease.