Impact of Exam Stress on Blood Levels of: Cortisol,Glucose and Cholesterol in Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Stress is a sum of physical, mental and emotional tensions on a person. Examination is a stress factor for students, that may bring about blood parameters changes. Thus, this study investigates the change in Cortisol, Glucose and Cholesterol levels in blood under the effect of examination. A blood sample was used to measure the levels of glucose, cholesterol and cortisol among 30 pharmacy students at Al-Wataniya Private University. The study was conducted 2 weeks prior to the exams (pre-exam) and during exams. Glucose, cortisol, and cholesterol were increased significantly (P<0.05) during-exam in comparison with pre-exam period for all students and both sexes. Cortisol level increased significantly among femalesduring exams compared to pre-exam while the increase was non-significant among males, which indicates that males react to stress in a more controlled manner than females.These findings suggest that the stress that the students are exposed to leads to blood parameters changes which predispose students to metabolic diseases.Stress is a sum of physical, mental and emotional tensions on a person. Examination is a stress factor for students, that may bring about blood parameters changes. Thus, this study investigates the change in Cortisol, Glucose and Cholesterol levels in blood under the effect of examination. A blood sample was used to measure the levels of glucose, cholesterol and cortisol among 30 pharmacy students at Al-Wataniya Private University. The study was conducted 2 weeks prior to the exams (pre-exam) and during exams. Glucose, cortisol, and cholesterol were increased significantly (P<0.05) during-exam in comparison with pre-exam period for all students and both sexes. Cortisol level increased significantly among femalesduring exams compared to pre-exam while the increase was non-significant among males, which indicates that males react to stress in a more controlled manner than females.These findings suggest that the stress that the students are exposed to leads to blood parameters changes which predispose students to metabolic diseases.