Hemoconcentration and stress: a review of physiological mechanisms and relevance for cardiovascular disease risk

Elevated levels of hematocrit and hemoglobin have been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of a number of diseases, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. A growing body of evidence also indicates that elevations in hematocrit and hemoglobin are present...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 1995-08, Vol.41 (1), p.1-27
Main Authors: Allen, Michael T., Patterson, Stephen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arousal - physiology
Blood viscosity
Blood Viscosity - physiology
Blood Volume - physiology
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology
Hematocrit
Hemoglobinometry
Humans
Risk Factors
Stress
Stress, Psychological - complications
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic Nervous System - physiopathology
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Summary:Elevated levels of hematocrit and hemoglobin have been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of a number of diseases, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. A growing body of evidence also indicates that elevations in hematocrit and hemoglobin are present in situations involving both physical and mental Stressors. This paper reviews the evidence linking decreases in plasma volume causing hemoconcentration with hemodynamic adjustments associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and the potential relevance of stress-induced hemoconcentration in triggering deleterious cardiovascular events. The importance of blood viscosity in understanding the effects of hemoconcentration is discussed, along with the need to evaluate the degree of hemoconcentration during stress for accurate interpretation of changes in certain blood constituents.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/0301-0511(95)05123-R