Psychophysiological study of genetic predisposition to essential hypertension

Genetic differences in family history status predict the subsequent development of hypertension. Individuals with at least one first-degree relative are more likely to develop hypertension. Three physiological response mechanisms by which this risk may be conferred are elevated baseline blood pressure, enhanced stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity, and delayed recovery from stress. An positive family history of hypertension may lead to essential hypertension through any or all of these mechanisms. Rarely have studies examined all three of these mechanisms, used males and females, had a large subject pool and verified their family history status. The present study represents a methodological improvement over prior studies by addressing all of these points.

Cognitive, affective, or behavioral personality predispositions have been linked to cardiac heart disease (Scheier and Bridges, 1995). Evidence has also suggested that a positive family history of hypertension may be associated with psychological attributes; one of the personality variables that may be implicated in the development of coronary heart disease is emotional suppression. By investigating both the biological and psychological predictors of hypertension, the present study has helped to further our understanding of the development of essential hypertension.

The results suggest that family history has significant effects on individuals’ resting blood pressure, task blood pressure levels, and recovery blood pressure levels. However, family history groups did not differ in cardiovascular reactivity to stressors independently of blood pressure levels. Further, the results indicated that positive family history subjects did not express their emotions differently than negative family history subjects. Exploratory analyses within the positive family history group revealed higher blood pressure levels associated with the suppression of positive and intimate emotions and with the expression of negative emotions.