Interactions of Chronic Stress Exposure and Stress Appraisal on Vascular Endothelial Function Among Young Adults.

We investigated the associations of ongoing, chronic stress exposure and stress appraisal on vascular endothelial function (VEF) in young adults. In 72 healthy young adults (74% female; age = 25±1 y), we assessed chronic stress exposure and appraisal with a measure that quantified chronic stress exposure and chronic stress appraisal related to 8 specific stressors over the last year. Participants completed the perceived stress scale (PSS) as a measure of global, proximal stress appraisal.

Habitual pre-exercise caffeine supplementation prevents exercise-training induced attenuation of exercising systolic blood pressure and double-product.

We examined the effect of habitual pre-exercise caffeine supplementation on training-induced adaptations to exercising systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), heart rate (HR), and double product (DP). Young women (mean±SD; 24±7 y) were randomized to a caffeine (120 mg) supplement (CAF; n=17) or placebo (PLA; n=16) group, completed 6-weeks of high intensity exercise training on three non-consecutive days per week, and supplemented with CAF or PLA 30-60 minutes before exercise or else upon waking. Before (PRE) and after (POST) the intervention, SBP, DBP, and HR were measured, and PP and DP calculated, at rest and during fixed-power exercise at 50W and 75W.

The acute effect of passively assisted trunk stretching on central arterial stiffness and blood pressure in middle-aged to older adults.

Purpose: We examined the effects of acute trunk stretching on central arterial stiffness and central and peripheral blood pressure in middle-aged to older adults.

Methods: Twenty-eight middle-aged to older adults (14M/14F, 72 ± 7 years, 28.5 ± 5.