Grant: Operating Grant

Metabolic syndrome (MS) constitutes a major health problem in this country, contributing significantly to cardiovascular death and disease. MS refers to a cluster of disorders involving; * excess weight, * higher levels of blood pressure, * higher levels of glucose (sugar in the blood), * higher levels of triglycerides (fat in the blood), * lower levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL; the so-called "good cholesterol") The proposed project seeks to evaluate whether hostility or the way a person responds to stress contributes to metabolic abnormalities over a period of 3 years in healthy individuals. Whether this differs according to age or being a man or a woman will also be examined. 140 men and women who were healthy and aged 18-65 years at the time of participation in a previous study (GAHR) returned to undergo further testing. They came to the laboratory where they completed questionnaires that measured hostility. They were exposed to stressful situations while bodilty functions (e.g., heart rate) were measured. Blood samples were taken to obtain indices of MS and other measures of risk (e.g., inflammation). Finally, participants wore monitors for 24 hours to measure heart activity and blood pressure during daily living. This is one of few investigations to examine whether hostility and/or stress responses contribute to MS burden over an extended period of time. The sample is extremely well characterized and we included a large age range and an equal representation of women/men. The information gathered from this research could provide insights into the mechanisms that contribute to metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular disease in men and women, as well as suggest alternative methods of treatment or prevention that are tailored to the needs of specific types of individuals. The ultimate goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent cardiovascular-related disorders.