Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(12), 2934-2949; doi:10.3390/ijerph6122934
Article

Chronic Stress and the Development of Early Atherosclerosis: Moderating Effect of Endothelial Dysfunction and Impaired Arterial Elasticity

Nadja Chumaeva 1,2 email, Mirka Hintsanen 1 email, Niklas Ravaja 3 email, Markus Juonala 4 email, Olli T. Raitakari 5,6 email and Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen 1,* email
1 Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland 2 Division of Medical Problems of Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biophysics, Institutional Street 3, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia 3 Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research, Helsinki School of Economics, P.O. Box 1210, 00101 Helsinki, Finland 4 Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinanmyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland 5 Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Turku, P.O. Box 52, 20521 Turku, Finland 6 Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, P.O. Box 52, 20521 Turku, Finland
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 15 September 2009 / Accepted: 20 November 2009 / Published: 27 November 2009
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Abstract: This study aims to explore the interactive effect of vital exhaustion (VE) and endothelial dysfunction on preclinical atherosclerosis, assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Furthermore, interaction between VE and carotid elasticity is examined. Participants were 1,596 young healthy adults from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. Endothelial dysfunction was measured by brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and carotid elasticity by carotid artery compliance (CAC). Significant interactions between FMD and VE, and between CAC and VE, for IMT were found in participants with the very lowest FMD and CAC. Thus, VE may be harmful if the endothelium is not working properly.
Keywords: chronic stress; vital exhaustion; intima-media thickness; flow-mediated dilatation; carotid artery compliance; atherosclerosis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chumaeva, N.; Hintsanen, M.; Ravaja, N.; Juonala, M.; Raitakari, O.T.; Keltikangas-Järvinen, L. Chronic Stress and the Development of Early Atherosclerosis: Moderating Effect of Endothelial Dysfunction and Impaired Arterial Elasticity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 2934-2949.

AMA Style

Chumaeva N, Hintsanen M, Ravaja N, Juonala M, Raitakari OT, Keltikangas-Järvinen L. Chronic Stress and the Development of Early Atherosclerosis: Moderating Effect of Endothelial Dysfunction and Impaired Arterial Elasticity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2009; 6(12):2934-2949.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chumaeva, Nadja; Hintsanen, Mirka; Ravaja, Niklas; Juonala, Markus; Raitakari, Olli T.; Keltikangas-Järvinen, Liisa. 2009. "Chronic Stress and the Development of Early Atherosclerosis: Moderating Effect of Endothelial Dysfunction and Impaired Arterial Elasticity." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 6, no. 12: 2934-2949.

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