<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Objective.</bold> The type and level of sex steroids influence blood pressure (BP). It has been suggested that functional brain asymmetries may be influenced by sex hormones. In addition, there are inter-arm differences in BP not yet related with handedness. In this study, we hypothesize a possible association between sex hormones, handedness, and inter-arm differences in blood pressure.<bold>Methods.</bold> To analyze this hypothesis, we measured BP in the left and right arm of the left and right handed adult young men and women in menstrual and ovulatory phase and calculated their mean arterial pressure (MAP).<bold>Results.</bold> Significant differences depending on sex, arm, handedness or phase of the cycle were observed. MAP was mostly higher in men than in women. Remarkably, in women, the highest levels were observed in the left handed in menstrual phase. Interestingly, the level of handedness correlated negatively with MAP measured in the left arm of right-handed women in the ovulatory phase but positively with the MAP measured in the right arm of right-handed women in the menstrual phase.<bold>Conclusions.</bold> These results may reflect an asymmetrical modulatory influence of sex hormones in BP control.</abstract>

Objective. The type and level of sex steroids influence blood pressure (BP). It has been suggested that functional brain asymmetries may be influenced by sex hormones. In addition, there are inter-arm differences in BP not yet related with handedness. In this study, we hypothesize a possible association between sex hormones, handedness, and inter-arm differences in blood pressure.Methods. To analyze this hypothesis, we measured BP in the left and right arm of the left and right handed adult young men and women in menstrual and ovulatory phase and calculated their mean arterial pressure (MAP).Results. Significant differences depending on sex, arm, handedness or phase of the cycle were observed. MAP was mostly higher in men than in women. Remarkably, in women, the highest levels were observed in the left handed in menstrual phase. Interestingly, the level of handedness correlated negatively with MAP measured in the left arm of right-handed women in the ovulatory phase but positively with the MAP measured in the right arm of right-handed women in the menstrual phase.Conclusions. These results may reflect an asymmetrical modulatory influence of sex hormones in BP control.

Handedness and gender influence blood pressure in young healthy men and women: A pilot study

Unit of Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaen, Spain

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Syndrome Adviser, Rossemaison, Switzerland

Department of Biostatistic, Medical School, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

Instituto de Neurociencia ‘Federico Oloriz’, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care and Emergency Department, Medical-Surgical University Hospital of the Jaen Hospital Complex

Endocrine Regulations

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Objective. The type and level of sex steroids influence blood pressure (BP). It has been suggested that functional brain asymmetries may be influenced by sex...

Handedness and gender influence blood pressure in young healthy men and women: A pilot study

Published Online: Feb 22, 2016

Page range: 10 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/enr-2016-0003

Keywords
brain asymmetry, handedness, sex hormones, blood pressure

© 2016 Rueda I et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Handedness and gender influence blood pressure in young healthy men and women: A pilot study

Published Online: Feb 22, 2016

Page range: 10 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/enr-2016-0003

Keywordsbrain asymmetry, handedness, sex hormones, blood pressure

© 2016 Rueda I et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
brain asymmetry, handedness, sex hormones, blood pressure