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Parental history of hypertension and hostility moderate cardiovascular responses to interpersonal conflict
S B Miller1, L Dolgoy, M Friese
1Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Offspring with a parental history of hypertension and high hostility showed heightened cardiovascular responses to stress. This suggests a potential mechanism for developing hypertension, particularly in harassed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Parental history of hypertension is linked to increased cardiovascular stress response.
- Hostility is hypothesized to contribute to cardiovascular disease via hyperreactivity.
- The combined effect of parental history and hostility on cardiovascular response is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between parental history of hypertension and hostility on cardiovascular responses to stress.
- To examine hemodynamic differences in young adult males based on these factors.
- To identify potential mechanisms for hypertensive disease development.
Main Methods:
- 98 healthy young adult males were studied.
- Participants were categorized by parental history of hypertension (PH+ vs. PH-) and hostility levels (HiHo vs. LoHo).
- Subjects underwent either a harassment or non-harassment stressor, with cardiovascular responses monitored.
Main Results:
- Offspring of hypertensive parents with high hostility (PH+/HiHo) exhibited elevated cardiac output and forearm blood flow when harassed.
- This response was significantly greater than in other harassed groups and all non-harassed individuals.
- The observed hemodynamic pattern indicates increased blood flow under stress.
Conclusions:
- The combination of parental hypertension history and high hostility exacerbates cardiovascular reactivity to stress.
- Elevated forearm blood flow in harassed PH+/HiHo subjects suggests a potential pathway for hypertension development.
- Familial and psychological factors interact to influence cardiovascular health outcomes.
Abstract:
A parental history of hypertension has been implicated in the development of hypertension, perhaps by virtue of an elevated cardiovascular response to stress. Similarly, hostility has been hypothesized to be linked to cardiovascular disease through cardiovascular hyperreactivity. The interaction of parental history and hostility in moderating cardiovascular response has been infrequently examined, though research suggests the two may be linked through familial factors. The present study examined the cardiovascular response of 98 healthy young adult males categorized as offspring of hypertensive subjects (PH+) or offspring of normotensive subjects (PH-) and as high or low hostile, based on Cook-Medley Hostility scores (HiHo vs. LoHo). Subjects were exposed to either an harassment or non-harassment stressor. Results indicated elevated cardiac output and forearm blood flow responses in PH+/HiHo subjects who were harassed as compared to any other harassed subject and all non-harassed individuals. This hemodynamic response pattern of elevated blood flow suggests a mechanism of hypertensive disease development.