Effects of fosinopril treatment on blood pressure during physical and mental stress test in essential hypertension

In this study the effects of once daily administration of 10 mg fosinopril on blood pressure response to mental and physical stress were evaluated in mild to moderate essential hypertension. A total of 25 patients (14 women, 9 men) with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled in this s tudy. Before the treatment and after 10 mg/day fosinopril treatment for 2 m onths, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were recorded a t rest and while performing a mental arithmetic test. In addition, exercise stress testing with Bruce protocol were performed before and after the tre atment and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were record ed at rest and during peak exercise. Statistical analysis were done by usin g the paired t-test. During the mental arithmetic test, systolic and diasto lic blood pressure were significantly reduced (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001, res pectively) after 2 months fosinopril treatment. Systolic and diastolic bloo d pressure were also significantly reduced during the exercise stress test (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05) after the treatment. Heart rate did not change dur ing either the mental arithmetic or the exercise test. As a result, once da ily 10 mg fosinopril may be effective in reducing blood pressure, not only at rest, but also during stressful situations.