Physiological Influence of Combined Mental Activity with Experimental Subway Noise

Numerous psychological stressors playa role in development of the cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether a combined mental activity with experimental subway noise affects hematological physiology. Fifty-four healthy volunteers were divided group I which underwent subway noise (n=24) and group II which underwent a combined mental activity with subway noise (n=30). Venous blood samples were collected for measuring CBC, prothrombine time (PT), activated partial thromboplastine time (APTT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer and high sensitive C-reactive protein (H-CRP) levels before, 50 min of stress task (S-50m) and 60 min of recovery (R-60m). Changed ratios of granulocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet counts at S-50m and R-60m were higher in group II compared to group I. RBC count and hematocrit level in group I increased whereas those in group II decreased at S-50m. PT, APTT and ESR in the both groups were shortened at R-60m and the decreased ratios were high in group II compared to group I. H-CRP and D-dimer in the both groups were elevated at S-50m and R-60m while the increased ratios in group II were greater than those in group I. These observations imply that a combined mental activity with experimental subway noise may be a stressor which affects hematological physiology.