Objective: To study the effects of stress among lady health visitors and housewives in
regard to their serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol and
triglyceride levels.
Methods: The study was performed at the Institute of Biochemistry, University of Sindh,
Jamshoro, Pakistan during the years 2003 to 2005. Seventy lady health visitor and
housewives aged between 25-40 years participated in this study and were selected from
Hyderabad and its adjoining areas. Environmental, psychological and physiological stress
levels were measured with likert scale. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL
cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured.
Results: Environmental, psychological and physiological stresses were significantly
higher in housewives as compared to lady health visitors. A low level of HDL cholesterol
was observed in housewives as compared to lady health visitors. The levels of total
cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride were found higher in housewives than lady
health visitors.
Conclusions: Housewives are under more stress than lady health visitors. The levels of
total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride increases but HDL cholesterol
decrease with stress. (Rawal Med J 2007;32:41-44)
Key words: Stress, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, lady
health visitors, housewives.
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