# Stress, Sleep and Cardiovascular Risk

> **NIH NIH R01** · HOWARD UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $456,062

## Abstract

Distressed neighborhood environments, posttraumatic stress, and compromised sleep are inter-related
problems that have all been implicated in the health disparities affecting urban minorities. In our recent work
we found significant relationships between self-reported and census-derived indices of neighborhood disorder,
and self-reported, habitual wake after sleep onset (WASO), with diminished nocturnal blood pressure (BP)
dipping, which is a well-established risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes and is over-represented
among African Americans. In addition to reduction of BP there is normally a shift toward parasympathetic
dominance of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) during sleep and evidence suggests that such shifts are
important for healthy cardiovascular homeostasis. Are preliminary findings indicate that this shift can be
compromised with PTSD and nocturnal vigilance in stressful neighborhood environments.
The goal for the proposed study is to further establish and extend a model where trauma exposure and
threatening environments elicit nocturnal vigilance and sleep-related fears that compromise the healthy
reduction of SNS and rise in PNS activity during sleep which in turn stimulates secretion of atherogenic
humoral factors, arterial stiffening, and cardiovascular disease risk. We will examine the roles of pre-sleep
cognition using a questionnaire and real time assessment, and modifiable strategies for coping with sleep
disruptive cognitions. We will then evaluate the impact of providing personalized feedback and
recommendations based on study observations on how participants cope with potentially sleep disruptive
cognitions and sleep efficiency. We will also determine whether healthier sleep-related behaviors (however
achieved) will influence changes in ANS balance during sleep and cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Thus study
findings will confirm and reveal biomarkers of cardiovascular pathogenesis related to stress and sleep
disruption that precede diagnosable illness, identify targets for preventive interventions, and provide evaluation
of a brief intervention that can be scaled up or built upon as study findings indicate.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9897585
- **Project number:** 5R01HL136626-04
- **Recipient organization:** HOWARD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS A MELLMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $456,062
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9897585

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9897585, Stress, Sleep and Cardiovascular Risk (5R01HL136626-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9897585. Licensed CC0.

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