Abstract:
The most frequent predictor of cardiovascular disease and sudden death worldwide is high blood pressure. The steroid hormone cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland. Stress is one of the primary causes of high blood pressure. Cortisol levels rise in response to stress, which causes the heart to beat more quickly and raises blood pressure. There was not enough information available regarding how cortisol contributed to hypertension in the male and female populations of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine how cortisol contributes to the development of hypertension and how increased salt intake affects cortisol levels in patients from Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Data about lifestyle factors, including physical activity, food, stress, and medication use, was gathered using a comprehensive survey. ELISA was used to measure the levels of cortisol in the serum. Factors associated with hypertension showed a high and statistically significant link, according to the independent samples correlations. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of healthy people was 130/90 mmHg, while the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of hypertension patients was 140/90 mmHg. The amount of salt consumed by hypertension patients (1.17 ± 1.35, p=0.001) and healthy people (2.48 ± 0.640, p=0.001) differed in a highly statistically significant way. A one-way ANOVA revealed a highly significant difference between the mean value of high cortisol levels (435.29 ± 90.306, p=0.001) and the high serum cortisol levels of hypertension patients (236.03 ng/ml-558.96 ng/ml). Similarly, hypertensive individuals' normal blood cortisol levels (118.0 ng/ml-229 ng/ml) varied significantly, with a mean value of 208.90 ± 39.210, p=0.001. Hypertensive individuals with low cortisol levels showed extremely significant differences (11.72 ng/ml- 87.62 ng/ml), with a mean value of 93.992 ± 72.333, p=0.001. According to the current study, women with high blood pressure have higher serum cortisol levels than men do, and roughly 28% of those with elevated serum cortisol levels reported experiencing stress on a daily basis. Thirty percent of the hypertensive participants in our study consumed one gram of salt, eight percent consumed two grams, and two percent consumed three grams. Three grams of salt were ingested daily by hypertensive individuals prior to their diagnosis. People with higher dietary salt intake are more likely to develop hypertension. The current investigation came to the conclusion that cortisol levels and high blood pressure were strongly correlated. According to this study, those who consume more salt in their diet are more likely to acquire hypertension since salt has a direct impact on blood pressure.
Page(s):
200-200
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: 4th International Conference of Sciences “Revamped Scientific Outlook of 21st Century, 2025” , November 12,2025, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2025
Keywords:
stress
,
Hypertension
,
Salt
,
Serum cortisol
,
cortisol