Cardiovascular Health & Early Stress
Virginia Commonwealth University
Summary
Childhood adversity is highly prevalent, with 59% of the U.S. population reporting at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). Substantial evidence links childhood adversity to cardiometabolic disease later in the life course, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, which are 3 of the top 10 causes of mortality in the United States. ACEs encompass many possible traumatic and distressing experiences, including abuse, neglect, or severe household dysfunctions. It is not surprising that the experience of those extreme events during the first decade of life has tremendous implications for the individual's psychological and physical health.
Description
Current knowledge supports that ACEs trigger emotional stress, anxiety, fear, and discomfort in the individual. Acute and intense mental stress leads to structural changes in the amygdala, prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. Then, the body secretes hormones to activate the cardiovascular system to cope with stress with a rapid increase in arterial pressure and heart rate. If the trauma is severe and/or repeated, the resting state for heart rate and blood pressure are readjusted, resulting in these children livi…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 9–30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Cohort 1 * Men and pre-menopausal women * 18-30 years old Cohort 2 * males and females * 9-17 years old Exclusion Criteria: Cohort 1 * Evidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic or cerebral diseases * Evidence of pregnancy or currently nursing. * Having a history of chronic pain * Having a history of rheumatoid arthritis Cohort 2 * Evidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic or cerebral diseases * Evidence of pregnancy or currently nursing. * Having a history of chronic pain * Having a history of rheumatoid arthritis
Interventions
- OtherChildhood stress
Based on stress-related information, participants will be divided into those who were exposed to adversity during childhood and those who were not exposed.
Location
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, Virginia