Articles tagged with Physiological Stress
A new study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that newer oral contraceptives may reduce the risk of heart problems for women who smoke. The study compared the cardiovascular responses to stress among healthy women taking different formulations of the drugs, including those with smoking habits.
A study of 318 men found that high levels of stress and low social support are associated with higher levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, a marker for prostate cancer. The research suggests that psychosocial factors may promote prostate disease through direct physiological pathways.
Researchers found that maternal soothing was not effective in reducing infants' cortisol response or behavioral reaction to stress, but may influence the child's developing model of the world. Maternal behavior in general is crucial in affecting cortisol and behavioral stress responses.
A recent study by University of Florida researchers found that less than a week's worth of walking or jogging can help the heart produce enough HSP72 to protect it against damage during a heart attack. Exercise can generate this protective protein, which helps stabilize and refold damaged proteins in the heart.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study found that rats who exercised regularly before stress exposure were protected against its suppressive effect on immune response. Regular exercise in moderation can help buffer the negative effects of stress on the immune system, according to the researcher.