Effects of chronic beta-blockade on intra-arterial blood pressure during motor car driving.

Abstract

Continuous intra-arterial blood pressure recordings during motor car driving were performed in 15 patients with untreated essential hypertension, using the "Oxford" recording technique. Each subject was an experienced driver who used his car every day, and for the study drove from his work place to the hospital during the later afternoon. This drive took place in urban traffic and the average duration was 20.9 minutes. Blood pressure during car driving was remarkably stable, and the average systolic and diastolic pressures were similar to the mean daytime pressure. After 16 weeks of treatment with oxprenolol each patient was restudied. Blood pressure during driving had dropped from 176/107 to 160/93 mmHg, but the blood pressure response to driving and blood pressure variation during driving (expressed as the coefficient of variation) were unchanged. After treatment, the mean daytime systolic pressure was lower than the mean pressure during driving, but the relative antihypertensive effect during driving was similar to that observed in the same patients during dynamic exercise on a bicycle ergometer. No drug-induced side effects occurred and there were no apparent effects on driving ability. Chronic treatment with oxprenolol reduced blood pressure during car driving without affecting the normal blood pressure response to driving.

Responses to mental stress and physical provocations before and during long term treatment of hypertensive patients with beta‐adrenoceptor blockers or hydrochlorothiazide.

“…Only two studies have reported decreases in blood pressure reactivity to mental stress during 3adrenoceptor blockade (Guazzi et al, 1976;Dunn et al, 1978), but the possibility of adaptation to the stress procedure was not investigated in these studies. A study of intraarterially recorded blood pressures during the stress of driving found a reduction of blood pressure levels, but no alteration of reactivity (Millar-Craig et al, 1981), in agreement with our results.…”

“…More likely, however, is the possibility that participation in a laboratory experiment entails a certain degree of stress in itself. The continuous ambulatory intraarterial blood pressure measurements of Millar-Craig et al (1981) support the contention that clinic blood pressures are not representative of those encountered elsewhere. Therefore, the differences in resting blood pressures during P-adrenoceptor blockade and thiazide treatment observed in the present study may well have implications for even mild forms of stress encountered in everyday life.…”

Mechanisms of cardiac risk among professional drivers.

“…This approach might eve ntually be combined with pharmacologic measures, such as the use of a beta-blockade, for selected drivers, since the se agents appear promi sing for this group (150)(151)(152)(153). Such an approach is being developed and will be the subject of future reports.…”

Νεα Αναιμακτος Μεθοδος Συνεχους Παρακολουθησεως Της Αρτηριακης Πιεσεως

“…9 ) οσο και στην εκτίμηση (Takeda και συν. 10 , Millar-Craig και συν 11 ) τής αποτελεσματικότητας τής εκάστοτε εφαρ μοζόμενης θεραπευτικής αγωγής. Παράλληλα ή συνεχής «αίσθηση» τής Α.Π.…”