YOU ARE NOW CONNECTED TO THE TOXLINE (1981 FORWARD, NON-ROYALTY) FILE. ==CHOLESTEROL AND STRESS== 4 AUTHOR Troxler RG AUTHOR Schwertner HA TITLE Cholesterol, stress, lifestyle, and coronary heart disease. SOURCE Aviat Space Environ Med; VOL 56, ISS 7, 1985, P660-5 (REF: 44) ABSTRACT Because of the recent report by the Lipid Research Group showing that a lowering of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol lowered mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and other similar studies, there can no longer be any doubt that cholesterol is a causal factor in the development of CHD. Since total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are produced by the body, those interested in the prevention of CHD must give greater attention to factors which are associated with raised endogenous cholesterol. The major factors are increased dietary and body fat, emotional arousal, and the inability of the liver to clear the serum of low density lipoprotein. The beneficial effect of exercise on lowering one's risk of CHD reported in the literature may be mediated by a rise in HDL cholesterol and/or weight loss. All patients should have their total cholesterol/HDL measured. Those with elevated serum cholesterols should be encouraged to eat a low saturated low fat diet, exercise, maintain proper weight and avoid undue distress. Cigarette smoking should be discouraged. Blood pressure elevations not responsive to diet and exercise should be treated with medication. Cholesterol elevations not responsive to life style change, should be treated with Cholestyramine. 4 AUTHOR Muldoon MF AUTHOR Herbert TB AUTHOR Patterson SM AUTHOR Kameneva M AUTHOR Raible R AUTHOR Manuck SB TITLE Effects of Acute Psychological Stress on Serum Lipid Levels, Hemoconcentration, and Blood Viscosity SOURCE Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 155, No. 6, pages 615-620, 36 references, 1995 ABSTRACT Forty four healthy, young men and women were randomly assigned to a stress or a control condition. Each subject was monitored for blood pressure and heart rate, and an intravenous catheter was inserted for subsequent blood sampling. Referents were asked to sit quietly for 21 minutes while those in the experimental group were given color/word association tasks under stressful conditions and their vital signs monitored. Heart rate and blood pressure rose between baseline rest periods and task periods in the stress group. Heart rate increased an average of 13.4/minute and systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels increased by 10.5 and 6.1mmHg respectively. Referents exhibited no change. Increases were observed in the serum lipid levels for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the stress group compared to the referent group. Higher levels of change were also observed for plasma total protein, plasma viscosity, plasma fibrinogen and whole blood viscosity in the stressed group. The authors conclude that their data suggest a manner in which an individual's greater or lesser cardiovascular response to stress may be associated with greater or lesser atherosclerotic risk. 3 AUTHOR Robinson P AUTHOR Inkson K TITLE Stress Effects on the Health of Chief Executives of Business Organizations SOURCE Stress Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 1, pages 27-34, 29 references, 1994 ABSTRACT A study of the effects of work and nonwork related stress in business executives was conducted. The study group consisted of 98 chief executive officers selected from businesses employing more than 150 workers in the Auckland, New Zealand area. All were male and 78% were 37 to 54 years old. They completed a questionnaire battery to obtain information on lifestyle habits and past and present health status and to rate work and nonwork related stressors, personality factors, and coping behaviors. Blood pressures were measured and blood samples were collected. The blood samples were assayed for the standard hematologic variables and serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity, lipid and cholesterol concentrations, and low density lipoprotein/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios. A four point health risk index was derived from the questionnaire and physiological data. The data were analyzed by logistic regression techniques. The overall mean health index risk index for the subjects was 1.02, indicating that they had a history of some health problems but that the health problems were unlikely to contribute to a future health risk. However, 28% of the subjects were in a higher risk category. Episodic and chronic work and nonwork related stressors, anxiety, positive lifestyle habits, and use of self control as a coping strategy explained 57% of the variance in the health risk index. The largest contributions to the health risk index variance came from positive lifestyle habits and chronic work and nonwork related stressors. The authors conclude that most of the subjects appear to be in good health. The data do not strongly support the stereotype of a highly stressed executive. Nonwork related stressors and lifestyle habits play important roles in determining the health risk of this population of middle aged business executives.