Adaptive changes of the indices of the cardiovascular system and serum content of a number of hormones under examination stress condition

Abstract

Aim. To study the features of the indices of the cardiovascular system and serum concentrations of several hormones and biogenic amines among the students under the impact of examination stress. Methods. The study was conducted on a group of young conditionally healthy volunteers. The starting group of study subjects consisted of 203 students who prior to participation in the study passed a medical examination, including medical history, calculation of body mass index, physical, instrumental and laboratory investigations. As a result, 93 students were selected; their own indicators outside the examination period were used as controls. The study individuals had an investigation of the state of autonomic reactions (measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, Kerdo autonomic index) conducted 1 hour before and within 1 hour after the examination. The hormonal status was investigated by enzyme immunoassay. The results of the study were verified using the software package «StatPlus». Results. Sympathicotonic nature of the vegetative response dominated, according to which two categories of students were allocated: with a steady and significant increase in Kerdo autonomic index (53%) and with the lack of such growth rate (47%). In the study of the hormonal profile a reduction in the serum concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone and cortisol levels, an increase in blood content of the tested biogenic amines - histamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), serotonin was revealed. Conclusion. The established changes in the indices of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems emphasize the individual nature of each subject’s reactions, and therefore require clustering of students into groups according to the characteristics of autonomic and hormonal responses to psychoemotional stress.