[The influence of experimental traffic noise on autonomous functions of normotensives and hypertensives after stress (author's transl)].

In a series of experiments on 12 normotensives and 12 essential hypertensives the influence of traffic noise (81 dB) on autonomous functions after stress exposure was examined. The process of the stress reaction was started by visually presented arithmetic tasks under affecting noise. With normotensives and hypertensives this combination of stressors led to a significant increase of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tone. The influence of traffic noise directly following the combination of stressors was examined in an intraindividual comparison with a resting-time period. During the period of noise, significantly higher values with blood pressure data only were found with normotensives and hypertensives as well. The comparison between the normotensive and the hypertensive group during the combination of stressors and during the following resting period showed no significant differences in reaction whereas during the second stressor hypertensives compared to normotensives showed strong, partly significant adaptation reactions of blood pressure with regard to the preceding experimental phase.