Short-Term Effect of Stress on Heart Rate Variability

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term mental stress on cardiac autonomic function. Sixty healthy adults (35 males and 25 females), aged 20 32 years, were participated in this study. Resting electrocardiogram for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis at spontaneous respiration was recorded at rest and under stress. Time and frequency domain and nonlinear HRV metrics were used to assess the effect of mental stress. HRV measurements showed consistent differences between stress and non-stress phases; and are associated with parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation. Heart rate increased under stress phase reflecting lowered functionality of the cardiac pacemaker. This study indicates that stress has an impact on the cardiac autonomic function as measure by HRV.