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Nervous tension and serum cholesterol: findings from the Chicago Coronary Prevention Evaluation Program

M Trevisan, Y Tsong, J Stamler

    Journal of Human Stress
    |March 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Experiencing tension, even mild, was linked to higher serum cholesterol levels in middle-aged men. This finding suggests stress management may be important for cardiovascular health.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiovascular Health
    • Psychosomatic Medicine
    • Preventive Cardiology

    Background:

    • Coronary-prone individuals are at increased risk for cardiovascular events.
    • Psychological factors like tension can influence physiological health.
    • Understanding the impact of tension on biomarkers is crucial for prevention.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between self-perceived tension and serum cholesterol levels.
    • To determine if this relationship is independent of other health factors.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of data from 519 coronary-prone middle-aged men in the Chicago Coronary Prevention Evaluation Program.
    • Self-reported tension levels (none, slight, moderate, marked) were recorded.
    • Serum cholesterol levels were measured and compared between tension and no-tension groups.

    Main Results:

    • A statistically significant elevation of approximately 4 mg/dl in mean serum cholesterol was observed in men reporting tension compared to those reporting no tension.
    • This association remained consistent regardless of weight changes, infections, medication use, or time of year.

    Conclusions:

    • Self-perceived tension is associated with higher serum cholesterol in coronary-prone men.
    • Tension may be an independent risk factor for elevated cholesterol, impacting cardiovascular health.

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