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The effect of environmental sound and communication on CCU patients' heart rate and blood pressure
Author(s) -
Baker Carol F.,
Garvin Bonnie J.,
Kennedy Carol W.,
Polivka Barbara J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770160605
Subject(s) - stressor , blood pressure , decibel , heart rate , sound (geography) , medicine , ambient noise level , audiology , conversation , cardiology , psychology , communication , clinical psychology , acoustics , physics
The effects of high ambient stressors (equipment sounds) and social stressors (conversation) on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were examined in coronary care patients. Simultaneously occurring sound level in decibels, actual sound, electrocardiogram, and BP were recorded three times/day over 2 days for 20 subjects. Repeated measures ANOVA and pairwise comparisons revealed maximum HR to be significantly higher during conversation than during low ambient sounds (quiet). High ambient stressors did not affect HR for these subjects. BP did not significantly change during any of the sound conditions. Further research is needed to delineate cardiovascular effects of specific social stressors.