Attenuated Sympathetic Baroreflex Sensitivity Evoked by Acute Mental Stress but not Prolonged Sleep Restriction in Healthy Adults

Background Psychological stress and insufficient sleep are both associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension. While the underlying mechanisms are not well defined, it has been postulated that this may be facilitated by modulation of baroreflex control of sympathetic activity. Short periods (<5 min) of mental stress attenuate sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (sBRS), but it is currently unclear whether this holds true for...