Stress resistance and psychological status features in working7age men with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Aim. To assess stress resistance and psychological status features in railway locomotive workers with arterial hypertension (AH). Material and methods. The study included 87 men aged 24-54 years (mean age 40,04±0,85 years) - machinists and machinist assistants with diagnosed Stage I-III AH. Control group included 35 men aged 24-54 years, of the same professions, but АН-free. All participants underwent psychological examination and psycho-mental tests. Results. In AH group, more participants demonstrated high personal anxiety levels, rest orientation and low probability of successful functioning under stress, comparing to АН-free control group. After psycho-mental tests, AH patients had significantly higher systolic blood pressure and heart rate increase than control subjects (p<0,05). In other words, stress reactivity was significantly higher (p<0,05) in AH group than in controls. Psycho-emotional stress tests are highly sensitive and allow to identify individuals with high stress reactivity, even among healthy persons - i.e., to identify AH risk group. Conclusion. The results obtained ask for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation program development, focused on AH prevention in machinists and their assistants. All programs should take psychological status and stress reactivity features into account