EXAMINATION STRESS

EFFECTS ON THYROID HORMONES

Abstract

O b j e c t i v e : 1: To examine the effects of examination stress in young adult male and female medical students on cardiovascular
system and thyroid gland (i.e. thyroid hormones; T3,T4).2:To find out whether the responses are sex dependent or not. S e t t i n g : Department
of Biochemistry NMC Multan (1997-1998). Patients a n d m e t h o d : Examination stress was studied in 28 young female and 21 young male
volunteer medical students, 0.5 hour before Biochemistry examination (stress condition), at 10-12 a.m. and about six weeks after examination
(control condition) at the same time in the year 1997. Estimation of Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) and T3 /T4 was done in patients
and control subjects. R e s u l t s : There were no differences in body mass index of male and female groups in control and stress group.
Subsequent analysis between two sexes showed that males subjects had significantly higher systolic (124.7±40.1 mmHg) and diastolic blood
pressure (76.56±2.48 mmHg). Heart rate (84.6±2.63) increases in stress condition, in both sexes, but in males the increasing of heart rate is
more than in females. Whereas females had higher respiratory frequency in stress condition, as compared to males. The levels of T3 in female
stress group were higher than male stress group but statistically not significant. The mean values of T4 were highly significant in female stress
group than in male stress group. C o n c l u s i o n s : Stress responses to examination are different between two sexes. The differences in responses
to examination stress between male and female showed a greater increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate
and also thyroid hormones in response to stress. It is suggested that as the examination is a stressful condition and different effects of stress
on male and female medical students should be considered. The clinical presentation is palpitations, tremors, nervousness, apathy, fatigue,
thirst, and emotional un-stability is due to the increase of thyroid hormones. Students are guided to remain relaxed, as neurotransmitters and
hormones are released which may effect the overall performance of the students. Further study may be down to find out the effects of stress
on other systems of the body which may be helpful in future to avoid the poor mental health status during the examination.