POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO THE COLD PRESSOR TEST

The interaction of race and climatic adaptation on patterns of cardiov ascular reactivity among young adult males was examined. Malay and Chi nese subjects living in a tropical climate in the Orient and Caucasian s living in a sub-tropical climate in North America were investigated. The cold presser test with hand immersion in cold water was used as t he stressor. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, cardiac frequency , cardiac output, and stroke volume were measured. The results provide d limited evidence for absence of differences in cardiac reactivity am ong racial groups and for greater vascular reactivity in the Caucasian s. Cold immersion also elicited differential responses which could be partially attributed to differences in acclimatization status. (C) 199 5 Wiley-Liss, Inc.