Lipid reactivity to stress: II. Biological and behavioral influences

This study examined behavioral and physiological influences on Lipid concen trations during acute and chronic stressors. One hundred men(n = 92) and wo men (n = 8) were tested during a chronic stressor and during 2 acute stress ors. During chronic stress, diet, physical activity, exercise, and sleep we re examined. During the acute stressors, catecholamines, cortisol, plasma v olume, and cardiovascular responses were examined. None of the behavioral i nfluences could explain the lipid response to chronic stress. Responses of the atherogenic lipids to acute stressors were not solely reflecting hemoco ncentration of the plasma but were moderately correlated with cardiovascula r, epinephrine, and cortisol reactivity. Diastolic blood pressure reactors to the acute stressors had larger lipid responses to the chronic stressor t han did nonreactors. Elevations in blood lipids during stress are not artif acts and may be clinically significant.