ABSTRACT
It is an established fact that primary and secondary hypertension and related cardiovascular disorders have a familial predisposition. We also know that essential hypertension is the most common amongst hypertensives. The aim of our study was to find out effect of cold pressor test (CPT) on heart rate and blood pressure amongst individuals with and without family history of hypertension. MethodsPresent study was undertaken using within group design consisting of measurements at basal and CPT and the parameters studied were pulse rate and Blood pressure. ResultsIn our study we found that in males with family history of HT (n=15), the mean basal pulse rate was 78.33 beats/min and following CPT it increased to 85.73. Similarly, in males without family history of HT (n=18) mean basal pulse rate was 77.28 beats/min and following CPT it increased to 86.72 beats/min. In both cases it was statistically significant. But it is observed that in case of females with family history of HT (n= 20) mean basal pulse rate was 80.9 beats/min and following CPT it increased to 89.1. Similarly, in Females without family history of HT (n=26) mean basal pulse rate was 77.15 beats/min and following CPT it increased to 84.73 beats/min and in both these cases, it was statistically significant. In males with family history of HT (n=15), mean basal SBP was 115.13 mmHg and following CPT increased to 123.93 and this was statistically significant and the mean DBP was 74.67 mmHg and following CPT it increased to 79.82 mmHg and it was not statistically significant. In males without family history of HT (n=18) mean basal SBP was 114.67 mmHg and following CPT it was increased to 122.89 mmHg and increase was statistically significant and mean DBP was 74.44 mmHg and following CPT it increased to 76.33 mmHg and this increase was not statistically significant. In females with family with family history of HT (n=20) the mean SBP was 114.2 mmHg and following CPT it increased to 121.9 mmHg and it was statistically significant and the mean DBP was 73.75 mmHg and following CPT it increased to 78.80 mmHg and it was not statistically significant. In females without family history of HT (n= 26) the mean basal SBP was 108.23 mmHg and following CPT it increased to 117.08 mmHg and the mean basal DBP was 69.92 mmHg and following CPT it was increased to 76.69 mmHg this increase in both the cases was statistically significant (table 1,2). In both the groups, none of the subjects was found to be hyperreactive to either systolic or diastolic blood pressure when they were subjected to CPT. ConclusionsIn both the groups, subjects were found to be hyporeactive or normoreactive to either systolic or diastolic blood pressure when they were subjected to CPT. But increase in basal blood pressure response is known to be due to CPT.