Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the cardiorespiratory (CR) and stress hormone responses to a combined physical and mental stress. Eight participants (\( V{\text{O}}_{{ 2_{\max } }} \) = 41.24 ± 6.20 ml kg−1 min−1) completed two experimental conditions, a treatment condition including a 37 min ride at 60% of \( V{\text{O}}_{{ 2_{\max } }} \) with participants responding to a computerized mental challenge dual stress condition (DSC) and a control condition of the same duration and intensity without the mental challenge exercise alone condition (EAC). Significant interactions across time were found for CR responses, with heart rate, ventilation, and respiration rate demonstrating higher increases in the DSC. Additionally, norepinephrine was significantly greater in the DSC at the end of the combined challenge. Furthermore, cortisol area-under-the-curve (AUC) was also significantly elevated during the DSC. These results demonstrate that a mental challenge during exercise can exacerbate the stress response, including the release of hormones that have been linked to negative health consequences (cardiovascular, metabolic, autoimmune illnesses).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acevedo EO, Webb HE, Weldy ML, Fabianke EC, Orndorff GR, Starks MA (2006) Cardiorespiratory responses of Hi Fit and Low Fit subjects to mental challenge during exercise. Int J Sports Med 27:1013–1022. doi:10.1055/s-2006-923902
Acevedo EO, Ekkekakis P (2001) The transactional psychobiological nature of cognitive appraisal during exercise in environmentally stressful conditions. Psychol Sport Exerc 2:47–67. doi:10.1016/S1469-0292(00)00013-3
ACSM (2000) ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Beaton R, Murphy S, Johnson C, Pike K, Corneil W (1998) Exposure to duty-related incident stressors in urban firefighters and paramedics. J Trauma Stress 11:821–828. doi:10.1023/A:1024461920456
Besedovsky HO, del Rey A (2000) The cytokine-HPA axis feed-back circuit. Z Rheumatol 59(Suppl 2):II/26–30
Chrousos GP (1998a) Stress as a medical and scientific idea and its implications. Adv Pharmacol 42:552–556. doi:10.1016/S1054-3589(08)60810-8
Chrousos GP (1998b) Ultradian, circadian, and stress-related hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity—a dynamic digital-to-analog modulation. Endocrinology 139:437–440. doi:10.1210/en.139.2.437
Chrousos GP, Gold PW (1998) A healthy body in a healthy mind–and vice versa–the damaging power of “uncontrollable” stress. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:1842–1845. doi:10.1210/jc.83.6.1842
Corneil W, Beaton R, Murphy S, Johnson C, Pike K (1999) Exposure to traumatic incidents and prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptomatology in urban firefighters in two countries. J Occup Health Psychol 4:131–141. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.4.2.131
Cryer PE (1980) Physiology and pathophysiology of human sympathoadrenal neuroendocrine system. N Engl J Med 303:436–444
Delistraty DA, Greene WA, Carlberg KA, Raver KK (1992) Cardiovascular reactivity in Type A and B males to mental arithmetic and aerobic exercise at an equivalent oxygen uptake. Psychophysiology 29:264–271. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1992.tb01696.x
Delistraty DA, Greene WA, Carlberg KA, Raver KK (1991) Use of graded exercise to evaluate physiological hyperreactivity to mental stress. Med Sci Sports Exerc 23:476–481. doi:10.1249/00005768-199104000-00014
Devito AJ, Kubis JF (1983) Alternate forms of the state-trait anxiety inventory. Educ Psychol Meas 43:729–734. doi:10.1177/001316448304300306
Dienstbier RA (1989) Dienstbier RA. Arousal and physiological toughness: implications for mental and physical health. Psychol Rev 96:84–100. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.96.1.84
Dill DB, Costill DL (1974) Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. J Appl Physiol 37:247–248
Frankenhaeuser M (1991) The psychophysiology of workload, stress, and health: Comparison between the sexes. Ann Behav Med 13:197–204
Gerra G, Zaimovic A, Mascetti GG, Gardini S, Zambelli U, Timpano M et al (2001) Neuroendocrine responses to experimentally-induced psychological stress in healthy humans. Psychoneuroendocrinology 26:91–107. doi:10.1016/S0306-4530(00)00046-9
Greiwe JS, Hickner RC, Shah SD, Cryer PE, Holloszy JO (1999) Norepinephrine response to exercise at the same relative intensity before and after endurance exercise training. J Appl Physiol 86:531–535
Hart SG, Staveland LE (1988) Development of a multi-dimensional workload rating scale: results of empirical and theoretical research. In: Hancock PA, Meshkati N (eds) Human mental workload. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Hessl SM (2001) Police and corrections. Occup Med 16:39–49
Inder WJ, Hellemans J, Swanney MP, Prickett TC, Donald RA (1998) Prolonged exercise increases peripheral plasma ACTH, CRH, and AVP in male athletes. J Appl Physiol 85:835–841
Kales SN, Soteriades ES, Christophi CA, Christiani DC (2006) Emergency duties and deaths from heart disease among firefighters in the United States. N Engl J Med 356:1207–1215. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa060357
Kjaer M, Secher NH, Galbo H (1987) Physical stress and catecholamine release. Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab 1:279–298
Maguire BJ, Hunting KL, Smith GS, Levick NR (2002) Occupational fatalities in emergency medical services: a hidden crisis. Ann Emerg Med 40:625–632. doi:10.1067/mem.2002.128681
Miller PF, Light KC, Bragdon EE, Ballenger MN, Herbst MC, Maixner W et al (1993) Beta-endorphin response to exercise and mental stress in patients with ischemic heart disease. J Psychosom Res 37:455–465. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(93)90002-W
Mutti A, Ferroni C, Vescovi PP, Bottazzi R, Selis L, Gerra G et al (1989) Endocrine effects of psychological stress associated with neurobehavioral performance testing. Life Sci 44:1831–1836. doi:10.1016/0024-3205(89)90300-7
Roth DL, Bachtler SD, Fillingim RB (1990) Acute emotional and cardiovascular effects of stressful mental work during aerobic exercise. Psychophysiology 27:694–701. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1990.tb03196.x
Rousselle JG, Blascovich J, Kelsey RM (1995) Cardiorespiratory response under combined psychological and exercise stress. Int J Psychophysiol 20:49–58. doi:10.1016/0167-8760(95)00026-O
Schoder H, Silverman DH, Campisi R, Sayre JW, Phelps ME, Schelbert HR et al (2000) Regulation of myocardial blood flow response to mental stress in healthy individuals. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 278:H360–H366
Sothmann MS, Buchworth J, Claytor RP, Cox RH, White-Welkley JE, Dishman RK (1996) Exercise training and the cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 24:267–287. doi:10.1249/00003677-199600240-00011
Stroop JP (1935) Studies in interference in serial verbal reactions. J Exp Psychol 18:643–662. doi:10.1037/h0054651
Szabo A, Peronnet F, Gauvin L, Furedy JJ (1994) Mental challenge elicits “additional” increases in heart rate during low and moderate intensity cycling. Int J Psychophysiol 17:197–204. doi:10.1016/0167-8760(94)90063-9
Wittert GA, Stewart DE, Graves MP, Ellis MJ, Evans MJ, Wells JE et al (1991) Plasma corticotrophin releasing factor and vasopressin responses to exercise in normal man. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 35:311–317. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1991.tb03542.x
Acknowledgments
Use of trade names does not constitute endorsement of product. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the opinions of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Webb, H.E., Weldy, M.L., Fabianke-Kadue, E.C. et al. Psychological stress during exercise: cardiorespiratory and hormonal responses. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 973–981 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0852-1
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0852-1