Disentangling the Effects of Daily Stress, Sleep, and Sex Hormones on Accelerated Vascular Aging in Midlife Women

Inclusion Criteria

• Female
• Age 40-55
• Premenopausal

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy (including a positive urine pregnancy test), planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• Peri- or post-menopausal
• Unstable or diagnosed chronic clinical disease, including cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, hepatic, autonomic, autoimmune, or dermatological disease
• Current or lifetime major psychiatric illness (e.g., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders)
• History of hysterectomy (complete or partial), polycystic ovary syndrome, endometrial hyperplasia, irregular menstrual cycles, or endometrial ablation
• Suspected potential presence of obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-Bang score >3) or insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index score >15)
• Current or recent (within 8 wks) use of medications that could conceivably alter cardiovascular function or sleep health
• Changes or alterations in medication status (starting a new, additional, or different medication or changing the dose of a current medication)
• Body mass index >35 kg/m2
• Tobacco or nicotine use, including vaping and electronic cigarettes
• Working night-time or rotating shift work within the previous 3 months
• Trans-meridian travel during study enrollment (inclusive of the entire duration of enrollment and the period between testing cycles)
• Known allergies to pharmacological agents/drugs
• Current use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC; e.g., IUDs, birth control implants)
• Known latex allergy