Stress-Induced Hemoconcentration of Blood Cells and Lipids in Healthy Women During Acute Psychological Stress

This study examined the effects of psychological stress on hemoconcentration in women. Hematologic and hemodynamic variables were assessed in 17 women before and after a 3-min speech task. Significant changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin levels, red and white blood cell (WBC) count, and calculated plasma volume occurred during psychological stress (all p s < .05). Significant increases were also observed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA; all p s < .05) during stress. After statistically correcting for the hemoconcentration effects of decreased plasma volume during stress, only WBC count and FFA concentration remained significantly elevated during the stress task ( p < .006 and p < .05, respectively). In sum, acute stress alters hemoconcentration in women, which in turn can account for most stress-induced changes in lipids.