Acute stress and cardiovascular disease : reference to autonomic nervous stress responses and physiological stress markers

A considerable numbaer of studies have been carried ou to clarify stress respones on the basis of autonomic nervous, endocrinological and immune functions. In particular, the autonomic nervous system plays a significant role in the phase of acute stress. It has been suggested that the autonomic nervous responses differ according to mood states. Among various kinds of stressors, natural disasters, such as earthquakes, are useful examples of unique unpredictable distress ti investigate the effect of acure stressors on the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome. A number of studies have demonstrated that cardiovascular risk and mortality increase after earthquakes, but their time course remains obscure. Psychilogical stress produces significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure that may lead to increased myocardial oxygen demand and plaque disruption. It is generally speculated that most cases of acute coronary syndrome occur within 1 month, particularly within 7 days, after an earthquake. However, a longer effect cannot be denied. Among several kinds of physiological stress parameters, salivary alpha-amylase(sAMY) has recently been proposed to reflect sympathetic nervous activity and its useful as a stress-related biomarker in order to manage stress and to prevent serious disease, such as cardiovascular disease. Altough a rapid and easy-to-use hand-held monitor for the measurement of sMAY activity has been developed, the usefulness of this device has not been verified, because inter-individual, and possibly intra-individual, differences in the reactivity of sAMY have an impact on the measurements