Cardiovascular reactivity and pain perception to thermal noxious stimuli across different phases of Menstrual Cycle

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Original Article

Author Details : Nirmala S Anand, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Volume : 4, Issue : 4, Year : 2017

Article Page : 498-503

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies on animal and human participants have failed to reach a consensus regarding the interaction of the autonomic nervous system with the female gonadal hormones and this paucity in research is important for a number of reasons since an alarming number of females complain of chronic pain and cardiovascular diseases throughout their reproductive lifespan the results of this complex interaction will help unraveling strategies for planning as well as implementation.. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the different phases of menstrual cycle alter the cardiac functioning as well as the pain nociception tested using the Cold Pressor test. Thirty eumenorrhic females were recruited and examined during the follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle for changes in the heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as for pain threshold, tolerance and its perception during Cold Pressor test. The results from our study proved that the heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher while the pain threshold and tolerance was lower during the luteal phase. We hence conclude that the luteal phase induces a greater cardiovascular reactivity and pain nociception as a result of greater sympathetic arousal due to interaction of the Autonomic nervous system with the endogenous gonadal hormones.

Keyword: Cold pressor test, Estrogen, Menstrual cycle, Vagal

How to cite : Anand N S, Goudar S S, Cardiovascular reactivity and pain perception to thermal noxious stimuli across different phases of Menstrual Cycle. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2017;4(4):498-503

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