New research suggests that even short periods of psychological stress can trigger measurable changes in your blood within minutes. Scientists found that stress may make blood more likely to form clots, reports The Conversation.
Stress affects more than the mind
Psychological stress is often seen as a mental challenge, but the body responds at the same time through a series of biochemical processes that can be measured in the blood.
Free radicals rise quickly
Researchers found that levels of free radicals increased within minutes after participants were exposed to psychological stress.
Blood changes its properties
Acute stress made the blood more prone to clotting because it altered the structure of forming blood clots.
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Long term stress is a known risk
Previous research has shown that chronic stress is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Oxidative stress may be the explanation
The researchers believe that oxidative stress may be the mechanism responsible for triggering these changes in the blood.
Eight men took part in the study
The study included eight healthy men between the ages of 18 and 30, who participated in two laboratory sessions.
Participants faced a stressful challenge
They were asked to deliver a speech in front of a panel of judges before completing a demanding mental arithmetic task.
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Blood samples were compared
Researchers collected blood samples before and after both sessions to examine how stress affected the blood.
Blood clots became denser
After the stress test, blood clots were larger and more tightly packed with fibrin fibres.
Blood thickness did not change
The study found no evidence that stress made the blood more viscous or thicker.
More research is needed
The researchers emphasize that larger studies involving more participants and different population groups are needed.
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The findings may lead to new treatments
Future research could investigate whether targeting the biochemical processes behind stress may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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