Open AccessRelaxing music reduces blood pressure and heart rate among pre‐hypertensive young adults: A randomized control trial
Author(s) -
Mir Imtiyaz Ali,
Chowdhury Moniruddin,
Islam Rabiul Md,
Ling Goh Yee,
Chowdhury Alauddin A. B. M.,
Hasan Zobaer Md,
Higashi Yukihito
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.14126
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , dash , heart rate , dash diet , population , randomized controlled trial , cardiology , diastole , physical therapy , environmental health , computer science , operating system
Prevalence of pre‐hypertension is higher among young adults and may increase the risk for hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity. Music therapy has been investigated to reduce the blood pressure in the hypertensive population; however, its efficacy on blood pressure in pre‐hypertensive young adults is not known. Thirty pre‐hypertensive (systolic blood pressure [SBP] = 120‐139 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] = 80‐89 mmHg) young adults were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups. Music group ( N = 15) received music therapy by passive listening to music for 30 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks, along with Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan (a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low‐fat dairy or unsaturated fat) and limit the daily sodium intake less than 100 mmol/day. The control group ( N = 15) practiced only DASH eating plan and sodium restriction. The SBP, DBP, and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after 4 weeks of intervention. There was a significant reduction in SBP (8.73 mmHg, p < .001) and HR (6.42 beats/minute, p = .002); however, the reduction in DBP (1.44 mmHg, p = .101) was not statistically significant in the music group. Control group did not exhibit any significant reduction in SBP (0.21 mmHg, p < .836), DBP (0.81 mmHg, p < .395) and HR (0.09 beats/minute, p < .935). In conclusion, music therapy reduced significantly SBP and HR suggesting that it could be a promising tool to prevent the progression of pre‐hypertension toward hypertension among young adults.