查看文章

Relative burst amplitude of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is an indicator of augmented sympathetic outflow and contributes to greater vasoconstrictor responses. Evidence suggests anxiety-induced augmentation of relative MSNA burst amplitude in patients with panic disorder; thus we hypothesized that acute stress would result in augmented relative MSNA burst amplitude and vasoconstriction in individuals with chronic anxiety. Eighteen participants with chronic anxiety (ANX; 8 men, 10 women, 32±2 yr) and 18 healthy control subjects with low or no anxiety (CON; 8 men, 10 women, 39±3 yr) were studied. Baseline MSNA and 24-h blood pressure were similar between ANX and CON (P> 0.05); however, nocturnal systolic blood pressure% dipping was blunted among ANX (P= 0.02). Relative MSNA burst amplitude was significantly greater among ANX compared with CON immediately preceding …