Cardiovascular responses of patients with cardiac disease to talking and exercise stress testing.

The blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and premature ventricular contraction responses of patients with cardiac disease during talking were compared with those during exercise stress testing (EST). BPs, HR, and heart rhythm were recorded in 52 patients with cardiac disease before and during talking about an intentionally neutral topic and compared with changes during EST. The systolic and diastolic BP and HR increased significantly during talking. Diastolic BP increased significantly more during talking than during EST stages 1 and 2. The increase in diastolic BP during EST stage 3 did not differ from the increase during talking. HR and systolic BP increased more during EST than during talking. Nine patients had premature ventricular contractions during both EST and talking, two during EST only, and one while talking only. The verbalization protocol provides information about changes in diastolic BP that are not seen with EST. It also may be of value for evaluating heart rhythm, HR, and systolic BP changes for patients whose disabilities preclude EST.