Stress, Sleep and Arterial Stiffness

Arterial stiffness is the earliest indicator of risk for hypertension, which is a leading cause of stroke and heart attack. In this study we will be examining the effect of sleep quality and daily stress experiences on arterial stiffness throughout the day. A group of study participants will then be selected for a 3 night stay on the hospital research unit. During this stay we will look at how the amount of sleep a person gets at night can influence the effect that a brief mental stress task has on arterial stiffness.