96-03-21 Volunteers Sought For Study of Stress Effects on Health

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY OF STRESS EFFECTS ON HEALTH

   COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University researchers are working to 
understand how stress affects people's health.  They are seeking 
volunteers to participate in a study of how every-day types of 
challenges affect cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, and 
related measures.

     The study is being conducted by Catherine Stoney, director 
of the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Laboratory and 
associate professor of psychology; and Karen M. Cook, research 
assistant.

     According to Stoney, studies have demonstrated that both 
chronic and acute stress result in significant increases in total 
cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride 
concentrations in healthy, middle-aged people.

     "These findings are important because we know that high 
levels of these fats in the blood increase risk for heart 
disease," Stoney said.  "Other studies from the laboratory have 
also shown that some individuals are better at coping with stress 
than are others; those that cope better tend to have lower 
cholesterol levels than those who do not cope well."

     "The aim of the program is to better understand the 
biologic and clinical importance of stress on the body," Cook 
said.  "We are particularly interested in understanding how 
stress affects cholesterol and related risk factors for coronary 
heart disease."

     The researchers are looking for men and premenopausal women 
between 40- and 45-years old and men and women ages 55 to 60.  
Volunteers must be healthy non-smokers, who aren't using any 
medication that could affect their heart or cholesterol levels.  
Women must not be taking estrogen or other hormones.  Each 
individual will participate in three separate two-hour sessions 
within a single week and will fast 12 hours prior to coming to 
the laboratory.  Blood samples will be taken and participants 
will be asked to participate in some challenging tasks.

     Participants will be given a complete cholesterol profile 
and information on their heart rate, blood pressure and lean body 
mass.  In addition, they will each receive up to $200, free 
parking, and, after each visit, a light breakfast or lunch.

     Volunteers can contact Stoney or Cook at (614) 292-0588, 
688-3346, or 688-3895.

     The study is being funded by the National Heart, Lung and 
Blood Institute, an agency of the National Institutes of Health.

                             #

Contact:  Karen M. Cook, (614) 688-3895.
Written by Tom Spring.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Thu, 21 Mar 1996 12:47:16 -0500]
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