Altered Autonomic Functions in Exam Stress: Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions

Background: Medical training involves a long and exhaustive curriculum in which students are frequently evaluated by examinations. Pre-examination stress is common condition faced prior to exams one of the most widely experienced problems for medical students. The aim study was assess effects exam on autonomic nervous system functions through cardiovascular parameters respiratory tests. Materials Methods: group consisted 29 second-year This cross-sectional carried out from February March 2020 at Harran University, Turkey. used were oxygen saturation, pulse rate (PR), systolic (SBP) diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulmonary function Data collected four times during an period. Results: There statistically significant difference between measurements PR, SBP, DBP different (p˂0.001; p=0.001; p=0.003, respectively). It found that caused increase lung function. results correlation analysis showed negative relationship Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume 1 second (FEV1), (VC). Conclusion: As result sympathetic induction, hemodynamic tests increased gradually until examination. presence PR FEV1, FVC, VC indicates physiological compensation occurs dynamic balance cycle PR. thought sinus arrhythmia contributes this mechanism.