| Abstract [eng] |
For several decades, an increasing number of researchers have been studying stress, physiological parameters and their interactions, as well as the impact of age on autonomic nervous system response to stress. Nowadays, stress – related physiological parameters can be easily measured and interpreted as activity of the autonomic nervous system both in resting state and during stress. However, it is still not fully understood how the stress response of parasympathetic nervous system depends on women age. The aim of the present study was to assess the response of parasympathetic nervous system to social stress in younger and older women. 40 younger and 39 older women performed a social stress task. Electrocardiogram was recorded for heart rate and heart rate variability evaluation. Time and frequency domains of heart rate variability were investigated. The results of the present study revealed that social stress tasks affect parasympathetic nervous system activity. Heart rate increases significantly during the social stress task compared to resting states in both young and older women. Analysis of heart rate variability parameters shows that the parasympathetic nervous system was also more active during rest and recovery from stress. Using correlation analysis, a relation between perceived stress during the experiment and heart rate variability parameters during reactivity to stress and recovery from stress in the group of older, but not younger women was found. In addition, a relation between stress reactivity and menopausal symptoms in a group of older women was determined. |
