Pain perception and cardiovascular responses in men with positive parental history for hypertension

Evidence suggests a reduced pain sensitivity in hypertensive individuals. This study sought to extend this work to normotensive individuals with hypertensive parents. Men with a positive (PH+) or negative (PH-) parental history for hypertension rated their pain every 15 s during a 90-s hand cold presser test and for 90 s after the cold presser test. Systolic (SEP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures and heart rate were measured throughout. After the cold presser test, the men recalled their pain using the McGill Pain Questionnaire. PH+ men showed greater SEP and DBP responses to the cold presser test. Although pain ratings during the cold presser test did not differ between groups, posttest reported pain receded faster in the PH+ than in the PH- men. The PHS men also reported less total pain on the McGill. These findings support the hypothesis that risk for hypertension may be associated with attenuated pain responses to nociceptive stimuli.