Gender differences in cardiovascular reactivity.
Pronounced cardiovascular reactivity to stress is a behavioral mechanism that may underlie the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease (CHD). Based on the greater incidence of CHD among males than among females, the purpose of the current investigation was to test the hypothesis that in young adults (ages 17-29), males (n = 47) show more cardiovascular reactivity than females (n = 61) to two stressors, a video game and cigarette smoking. Five of the six comparisons did not support the hypothesis: females were higher on heart rate and diastolic blood pressure reactivity to both stressors; males were higher on systolic blood pressure reactivity to the video game only. The results suggest that females may be particularly physiologically reactive to cigarette smoking.
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Related Subject Headings
- Smoking
- Risk Factors
- Play and Playthings
- Male
- Identification, Psychological
- Humans
- Heart Rate
- Gender Identity
- Female
- Coronary Disease
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Smoking
- Risk Factors
- Play and Playthings
- Male
- Identification, Psychological
- Humans
- Heart Rate
- Gender Identity
- Female
- Coronary Disease