Research Article

Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions

Volume: 18 Number: 1 April 28, 2021
TR EN

Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions

Abstract

Background: Medical training involves a long and exhaustive curriculum in which students are frequently evaluated by examinations. Pre-examination stress is a common condition faced by students prior to exams and is one of the most widely experienced problems for medical students. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of exam stress on autonomic nervous system functions of students through cardiovascular parameters and respiratory tests. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 29 second-year medical students. This cross-sectional study was carried out from February to March 2020 at Harran University, Turkey. The parameters used were oxygen saturation, pulse rate (PR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulmonary function tests. Data were collected four times during an exam period. Results: There is a statistically significant difference between the measurements of PR, SBP, and DBP at different times (p˂0.001; p=0.001; p=0.003, respectively). It was found that exam stress caused an increase in lung function. The results of correlation analysis showed a negative relationship between PR, and Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), vital capacity (VC). Conclusion: As a result of the sympathetic nervous system induction, hemodynamic and respiratory tests increased gradually until the examination. The presence of a negative correlation between PR and FEV1, FVC, and VC indicates that physiological compensation occurs through the dynamic balance between the respiratory cycle and PR. It is thought that respiratory sinus arrhythmia contributes to this physiological compensation mechanism.

Keywords

Thanks

The author would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Hakim ÇELİK and Dr. Abdullah TAŞKIN for their suggestions and comments on the manuscript.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 28, 2021

Submission Date

March 16, 2021

Acceptance Date

April 22, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 18 Number: 1

APA
Taşkın, S. (2021). Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 18(1), 138-144. https://doi.org/10.35440/hutfd.898077
AMA
1.Taşkın S. Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2021;18(1):138-144. doi:10.35440/hutfd.898077
Chicago
Taşkın, Seyhan. 2021. “Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 18 (1): 138-44. https://doi.org/10.35440/hutfd.898077.
EndNote
Taşkın S (April 1, 2021) Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 18 1 138–144.
IEEE
[1]S. Taşkın, “Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions”, Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 138–144, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.35440/hutfd.898077.
ISNAD
Taşkın, Seyhan. “Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi 18/1 (April 1, 2021): 138-144. https://doi.org/10.35440/hutfd.898077.
JAMA
1.Taşkın S. Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2021;18:138–144.
MLA
Taşkın, Seyhan. “Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions”. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 18, no. 1, Apr. 2021, pp. 138-44, doi:10.35440/hutfd.898077.
Vancouver
1.Seyhan Taşkın. Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi. 2021 Apr. 1;18(1):138-44. doi:10.35440/hutfd.898077

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