Midterms. Relationships. Bills. Deadlines.
These types of stress builders affect men and women differently but can be relieved in both sexes thorough exercise, according to a study at the ASU Stress Center, a division of the ASU Center for the Study of Stress and Adaptation.
"One reason we are interested is because men and women are at different risks for disease," said Kathleen Matt, director of the ASU Stress Center. "Men are more prone for heart disease, and women are more prone for autoimmune disease."
The study consisted of seven tests conducted on seven women and eight men. None of the participants were ASU students.
During each test, a subject's blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol, or the "stress hormone," levels were monitored. The research began in the fall, and more subjects will be monitored in the spring.
Men displayed higher blood pressure levels then women, as well as higher cortisol levels. Matt said she thinks that these differences may be due to different stress-management techniques.
Women tend to deal with stress by talking, exercising or engaging in another stress-relieving activity, said Matt, who is also the associate director of the Arizona Biomedical Institute and a professor in the department of exercise science.
Matt recommended that men and women exercise to relieve stress.
"Exercise allows you to respond to stress, but then it brings you back down to baseline," she said. "It also makes you more resilient to stress and is also a wonderful distraction. A lot of our stressors are psychological."
When people experiences high levels of stress, they have high levels of cortisol, which can cause cravings for salty, fatty and sugary foods. Matt said cortisol also has strong effects on the skin and can cause rashes, hives, acne or eczema.
Women experience high levels of cortisol during premenstrual syndrome, commonly known as PMS, and in severe cases known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Matt said high levels of cortisol lead to changes in eating behaviors.
"Vitamin B6 also decreases during PMDD, and it is one of the vitamins known to decrease during stress," Matt said.
Students said they deal with stress in different ways.
"When I have a lot of tests, homework and projects due in the same week, everything gets cluttered and stressful," said Justin Chase, a social work sophomore. "Then I might take a day off work or just go for a drive."
Lindsay Malay, a psychology freshman, also tries to tackle the stress of school.
"I try to stay organized so there's not a lot of last minute things to worry about," Malay said. "I also try to take time for myself - do something besides school. School's my biggest stressor right now."
Matt recently submitted a grant to further research on women's response to the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, which stimulate nurturing behaviors.
This new research will also study the sympathetic nervous system, or "fight or flight" response, in men and be used to compare men and women in stressful situations.
Reach the reporter at emily.murphy@asu.edu.
