Cardiovascular health screening among South African students

Abstract

Stress is an unavoidable part of everyday life due to the demands and stressors associated with modern lifestyle. Health risks provoked by this increasingly prevalent condition lead to cardiovascular disease, which ultimately results in a poor health status. Studies have confirmed that there is a correlation between a person’s lifestyle and stress levels: sedentary lifestyles increase the risk of developing various cardiovascular conditions. Improved physical fitness is one of the lifestyle modifications proven to benefit heart health by reducing the effects of stress and its associated threats. The purpose of this study was to compare the heart health of subjects from two further education and training institutes. Institution 1 is a traditional tertiary institution that focuses on lectures, while Institution 2 provides an organised, daily physical training programme in addition to its academic programme. Subjects underwent a non-invasive ViportTM test which measures the cardio stress index (CSI), heart rate (HR), and QRS duration. Additional variables measured included: age, gender, perceived stress level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index. Results obtained from the study indicate that students from Institution 1 (n=158) had significantly higher readings (p<0.001) than those from Institution 2 (n=128) on CSI and HR, but significantly lower readings on blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). In theory, this finding may be attributed to the fact that individuals from Institution 1 (training population) follow a set daily physical routine which improves their heart health and decreases stress- related risk.