Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: The Buffering Role of Slow-Wave Sleep.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress has been associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). However, interstudy variability in this relationship suggests the presence of moderating factors. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that poor nocturnal sleep, defined as short total sleep time or low slow-wave sleep, would moderate the relationship between cardiovascular reactivity and IMT.

Methods

Participants (N = 99, 65.7% female, age = 59.3 ± 9.3 years) completed a two-night laboratory sleep study and cardiovascular examination where sleep and IMT were measured. The multisource interference task was used to induce acute psychological stress, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were monit

SUBMITTER: Brindle RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5878122 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature