Ulf Lundberg

Stress hormones in health and illness: The roles of work and gender

Two neuroendocrine systems are of specific interest in the study of stress and health; the sympathetic adrenomedullary system with the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) system with the secretion of cortisol. These hormones have often been used as objective indicators of stress in the individual. However, through their bodily effects, they are also a link between the psychosocial environment and various health outcomes. From a series of studies of women and men, it was concluded that gender roles and psychological factors are more important than biological factors for the sex differences in stress responses. The stress responses have been important for human and animal survival and for protection of the body. However, in modern society, some of these bodily responses may cause harm rather than protection. The catecholamines have been linked to cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke, cortisol to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, reduced immune function and cognitive impairment. An adequate balance between catabolic (mobilization of energy) and anabolic processes (growth, healing) is considered necessary for long term health and survival. In modern society, which is characterized by a rapid pace of life, high demands, efficiency and competitiveness in a global economy, it is likely that lack of rest, recovery and restitution is a greater health problem than the absolute level of stress.

Sex differences in sympathetic-adrenal medullary reactions induced by different stressors

Male and female university students were exposed to two different stressors in each of two 110-min sessions, i.e., a cognitive task (color-word conflict) and repeated venipuncture. Catecholamine excretion, heart rate, and subjective reactions were measured. Control values were obtained under conditions of relaxation in the laboratory. Subjects of both sexes responded to both stressors by increased heart rate and feelings of unpleasantness and distress. The pattern of adrenaline excretion, however, differed between sexes: in males both stressors induced a significant increase, whereas in females adrenaline excretion remained on the same level under the two stress conditions as during relaxation. Noradrenaline excretion was not systematically affected by either stressor in either sex group.

Psychophysiological stress responses, muscle tension, and neck and shoulder pain among supermarket cashiers.

: This study examined psychological and physiological stress, as well as muscle tension and musculoskeletal symptoms, among 72 female supermarket cashiers. Stress levels were found to be significantly elevated at work, as reflected in the catecholamines, blood pressure, heart rate, electromyographic (EMG) activity, and self-reports. Fifty cashiers (70%) suffering from neck-shoulder pain (trapezius myalgia) were found to have higher EMG activity at work and reported more tension after work. Women who kept a diary for 1 week and reported more musculoskeletal pain (above the median) were older, had higher blood pressure, and reported more work stress and psychosomatic symptoms. The elevated stress levels at work are consistent with data from workers involved in other types of repetitive tasks and can be important for the high prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms among the cashiers.

Women, work, and health : stress and opportunities

No wonder you activities are, reading will be always needed. It is not only to fulfil the duties that you need to finish in deadline time. Reading will encourage your mind and thoughts. Of course, reading will greatly develop your experiences about everything. Reading women work and health stress and opportunities is also a way as one of the collective books that gives many advantages. The advantages are not only for you, but for the other peoples with those meaningful benefits.

Influence of paid and unpaid work on psychophysiological stress responses of men and women.

Female labor force participation has increased considerably, but womens traditional responsibility for home and family has not changed accordingly. Although womens employment per se does not seem to have negative health consequences, studies show that stress from role conflicts and work overload is reflected in womens elevated psychophysiological arousal not only at work but also off work, which may induce psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders). In addition, multiple role demands reduce womens possibilities to make a professional career on the same terms as men. Data emphasize the need for a new allocation of work functions between the sexes and the need for organizational changes leading to more influence and control over work to make it possible for both men and women to combine a qualified job with a meaningful family life.

Psychological and physiological stress responses during repetitive work at an assembly line

Abstract The association between psychological and physiological stress responses was examined in 20 male workers at an assembly line. Each worker was studied during a 2 h period on two consecutive days in their normal job and, in order to obtain physiological baseline values, during a corresponding paid 2 h period off the job on the third day. Self-reports of work demands, mood, etc., measurements of catecholamine and cortisol excretion and of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were obtained at the end of each of the three 2 h periods. Work induced a significant elevation in almost all psychological and physiological measurements. Levels were consistently lower in workers reporting a ‘good’ workday compared to those reporting a ‘normal’ or a ‘bad’ day. Correlations between self-reports and physiological values showed that catecholamine and cortisol responses, respectively, tended to be associated selectively with different psychological conditions, catecholamine values being associated ...

Serum-coated zymosan stimulates the synthesis of leukotriene B4 in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Inhibition by cyclic AMP

Abstract Addition of serum-treated zymosan particles to a suspension of human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes led to the formation of leukotriene B 4 . Prostaglandin I 2 and RO20-1724 (an inhibitor of cyclic 3′:5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase) decreased the synthesis of this compound, indicating that cyclic AMP exerts an inhibitory effect on the formation of leukotriene B 4 .

Fear, pain and stress hormones during childbirth

Aims. To investigate the course of fear, pain and stress hormones during labor, and the associations between fear, pain, stress hormones and duration of labor in nulliparous women with and without epidural analgesia (EDA). Method. One day during gestation weeks 37–39, urinary and salivary samples were collected to measure catecholamines and cortisol. Hourly during labor, the participants answered the Delivery Fear Scale and a pain intensity scale, and urinary and salivary samples were collected to measure stress hormones. Results. The course of fear, pain and stress hormones differed throughout labor in women with and without EDA. Pain and cortisol increased throughout labor in women without EDA. Women who received EDA had more fear, but not more pain, before the administration of the EDA than women who did not receive EDA. Pain, fear and catecholamines decreased when women received EDA, but fear and pain increased again later in labor. Fear and pain correlated, as well as levels of fear in the different phases of labor. During phase one of labor epinephrine and duration of the phase were negatively correlated. Conclusion. The course of fear, pain and concentrations of stress hormones differed, highly influenced by the administration of EDA. Fear and pain correlated more pronounced than stress hormones and fear, pain and duration of labor.

Pain perception to the cold pressor test during the menstrual cycle in relation to estrogen levels and a comparison with men.

Animal and human research has shown that pain sensitivity changes during the menstrual cycle. This has sometimes been ascribed to hormonal variations. The aim of the present study was to examine how perception of pain, induced by the cold pressor test to the dominant hand, was related to gender and phases of the menstrual cycle. A repeated-meausres design was used, where twenty-two female students participated at two different phases of the menstrual cycle (days 2–4 and days 20–24). A control group of nineteen male students participated on two occasions, separated by a three week period. The cycle phase during which each woman began her participation was randomized. Pain was induced using the cold pressor test. Pain threshold was determined as the duration of time between when the subject first reported pain and exposure to the painful stimulus. Pain tolerance was determined as the duration of time until the subject withdraw her/his hand from the test water because the pain was too intensive. The results showed that men tolerated significantly greater pain than women. Women’s pain threshold was significantly higher during the second phase of the menstrual cycle. Systolic pressure was higher in men than women, increasing more in men in response to cold pressor testing than women. Further research, including measurments of plasma hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, is needed to clarify the role played by estrogens in pain perception.

Psychological and physiological stress reactions of male and female assembly workers: a comparison between two different forms of work organization

Psychological and physiological stress responses of 36 male and 29 female assembly workers were examined during and after work at a car engine factory. Two different ways of organizing assembly work were compared, (1) a more traditional assembly line with fixed work stations organized as a chain and involving short repetitive work cycles and, (2) a new and more flexible work organization with small autonomous groups having greater opportunities to influence the pace and content of their work. Each worker was examined during and after a normal day at work on 2 consecutive days and, in order to obtain endocrine baseline data, during a corresponding work-free period at home. As expected, both female and male workers in the flexible organization reported significantly more variation, independence and abilities to learn new skills at work. Workers in both forms of work organization showed a significant increase in urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine during work compared to the work-free day at home. Males had significantly higher epinephrine and systolic blood pressure levels than females. Successive self-reports of tiredness increased significantly more at the assembly line compared to the flexible work organization. In keeping with this, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and epinephrine increased significantly during the work shift at the assembly line but not during work in the flexible organization. Catecholamine levels revealed that the subjects were able to unwind more rapidly after work in the flexible organization. This pattern was particularly pronounced for the female workers. In summary, the various stress indicators support the notion that the flexible work organization induces less stress than the assembly line and that the female workers were able to benefit most from this new form of work organization. Copyright