Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Children of Hypertensive Parents

Overview

Journal Ann Neurosci

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Neurology

Date 2014 Sep 11

PMID 25206000

Citations 3

Authors

Preeti Rathi

Vinay Agarwal

Ajay Kumar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a global problem. Positive family history of hypertension is one of the risk factors for being hypertensive in future life for their children. Hyperactive sympathetic nervous system is reported in children of hypertensive parents.

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to observe the magnitude of alterations in autonomic reactivity following the standard autonomic function tests in normotensive male offsprings of both-hypertensive and normotensive parents.

Methods: Fifty young and healthy male subjects between 19-24 yr of age got examined for autonomic reactivity. Twenty five of them were having family history of hypertension (study group) while the remaining were the children of normotensive parents (control group). Non invasive autonomic function tests as per Ewing's criteria were performed in all the subjects.

Results: The resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly raised in subjects of study group. The sympathetic function tests as assessed by rise in diastolic blood pressure following cold pressor test and hand grip test were highly significant in study group as compared with control one. However, the vagally mediated tests, for heart rate responses, denoting parasympathetic functions were similar in both groups.

Conclusion: It seems that there is increased sympathetic activity in children of hypertensive parents without parasympathetic modulation in early life. It may predispose them to hypertension in their later life.

Citing Articles

Impact of an active lifestyle on heart rate variability and oxidative stress markers in offspring of hypertensives.

Santa-Rosa F, Shimojo G, Dias D, Viana A, Lanza F, Irigoyen M Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):12439.

PMID: 32709890 PMC: 7382460. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69104-w.

Prenatal cold exposure causes hypertension in offspring by hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Chen K, Sun D, Qu S, Chen Y, Wang J, Zhou L Clin Sci (Lond). 2019; 133(9):1097-1113.

PMID: 31015358 PMC: 6833955. DOI: 10.1042/CS20190254.

Neurocardiac regulation: from cardiac mechanisms to novel therapeutic approaches.

Bardsley E, Paterson D J Physiol. 2018; 598(14):2957-2976.

PMID: 30307615 PMC: 7496613. DOI: 10.1113/JP276962.

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