Hematocrit increase by mental stress in hypertensive patients.

1 January 1988

journal article
research article
Published by International Heart Journal (Japanese Heart Journal) in Japanese Heart Journal

Vol. 29 (4) , 429-435
https://doi.org/10.1536/ihj.29.429

Abstract

Hematocrit (Hct) changes during mental stress were studied in 21 patients with mild hypertension. A 10 min arithmetic stress test increased blood pressure from 129 .+-. 2/80 .+-. 2 mmHg (mean .+-. SEM) to 167 .+-. 5/98 .+-. 3 mmHg, and heart rate from 64 .+-. 2 to 81 .+-. 3 (p < 0.001). Concomitantly, a significant (p < 0.001) increase in Hct was observed (from 41.5 .+-. 0.7% to 42.2 .+-. 0.8%), and increments of Hct (-0.1% to 2.2%) were significantly (r = 0.61, p < 0.01) correlated with those of systolic blood pressure. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) also showed a significant increase after mental stress. All these changes disappeared after a 60 min recovery period. The results suggest that mental stress increases Hct promptly, which may be due to concomitant increases in plasma NE, E and ANP levels. Hct elevation resulting from mental stress may be clinically relevant, at least, in hypertensive patients who are at risk of occlusive vascular diseases.

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