Comparative study of sympathetic function tests in premenopausal and postmenopausal Women

---

Original Article

Author Details : Sudha Karadkhedkar, Somwanshi ND, Takras Seema

Volume : 4, Issue : 4, Year : 2017

Article Page : 472-475

Suggest article by email

Get Permission

---

Abstract

Introduction: Menopause is permanent cessation of menstruation. After menopause primordial follicles become atretic, hence ovaries fail to produce estrogen. The presence of estrogen receptors in the heart, vascular smooth muscles and autonomic brain stem centers denotes role in regulation of cardiovascular system.
Aims and Objectives: To compare the sympathetic function tests in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Materials and Method: The autonomic function tests in 60 premenopausal and 60 postmenopausal women were compared. Parameters under study were Height, Weight, BMI, Sympathetic function test: Orthostatic tolerance test and Sustained isometric hand grip test.
Result: We found significant increase in BMI (P<0.05) and blood pressure during Sustained isometric hand grip test (P<0.05) while there was significant change in Orthostatic tolerance test when compared between premenopausal and postmenopausal.
Discussion: Estrogen acts on pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, regulate their cellular activity through estrogen receptor, and suppress food intake. Also decline in the estrogen levels shifts the autonomic balance toward the sympathetic dominance in the postmenopausal women.
Conclusion: We conclude that there is increased tendency of obesity, autonomic imbalance with sympathetic over activity in postmenopausal women as compared to premenopausal women.

Keywords: Sympathetic function, Premenopausal women, Postmenopausal women, Body Mass Index

How to cite : Karadkhedkar S, Somwanshi Nd, Seema T, Comparative study of sympathetic function tests in premenopausal and postmenopausal Women. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2017;4(4):472-475

This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.