Effect of apprehension on pulmonary diffusing capacity in man.
- 1 March 1966
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physiological Society in Journal of Applied Physiology
- Vol. 21 (2) , 534-538
- https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1966.21.2.534
Abstract
The effect of apprehension on diffusing capacity (DLCO) of the lung for CO was investigated in 10 students, 1 hr. before and 1hr. after the announcement of their final B.Sc. (Honors) examination results. After hearing the results the DLCO and systolic blood pressure fell significantly by 7.7% (P < 0.001) and 8.2% (P < 0.001), respectively. The diastolic blood pressure showed no significant change and the fall in heart rate was only significant after excluding one result. It is concluded that the students were apprehensive about their performance at the examination until they heard the results, and that this caused the relative increase in DLCO and cardiovascular indices observed. It is likely that these effects were mediated through the release of adrenaline, and possibly noradrenaline, which has been shown to increase DLCO when administered to man by infusion.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Hourly Rhythms in Blood Pressure in Persons With Normal and Elevated PressuresAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1930