Physical fitness and perceived stress. Relationships with coronary artery disease risk factors

This study evaluated the relationship between two biochemical risk factors for coronary artery disease, serum lipids and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), and both fitness and perceived stress among a cohort of senior male Army officers (N = 331). The participants underwent a number of assessments gauging their fitness [exercise tolerance as measured by maximum ventilatory oxygen uptake (MVO2)], psychological well-being, and biochemical cardiovascular risk factors. Perceived stress was significantly and inversely related to DHEA-S levels, even after adjusting for age, though no relationship was found between perceived stress and serum lipids. Significant correlations were found between MVO2 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and inversely between MVO2 and triglycerides. Overall, the study's findings are generally consistent with the view that psychological stress and physical activity have opposite effects on parameters that affect cardiovascular status.