Lipid reactivity among men with a parental history of myocardial infarction

✍ Scribed by Catherine M. Stoney; Joel W. Hughes

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 63 KB
• Volume: 36
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0048-5772
• DOI: 10.1017/s0048577299981283

✦ Synopsis

In the current study, we examined lipid and cardiovascular responses to an acute stressor among men with and without a parental history of myocardial infarction. 37 men were selected from a large group who completed medical history questionnaires and interviews. Twenty‐two men who denied parental history of heart disease (negative parental history) were compared with 15 men with one or both parents who had suffered a myocardial infarction (positive parental history). Total cholesterol, high‐ and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured at rest and during a videotaped speech stressor. Positive parental history men had significantly higher low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and blood pressure at baseline, significantly lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at baseline, and significantly larger total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol reactivity, relative to negative parental history men. Because parental history is a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, these data suggest that lipid reactivity to stress may be biologically important.