Key result
Relaxation therapy lowers HR and systolic BP, linking sympathovagal balance to blood pressure status.
Why the study?
The effects of short-term relaxation therapy on autonomic and cardiovascular functions in young adults were assessed to understand its impact on heart rate variability and blood pressure.
Does short-term relaxation therapy improve indices of heart rate variability and blood pressure in young adult medical students?
Case-Control (n=67)
No
Does short-term relaxation therapy improve indices of heart rate variability and blood pressure in young adult medical students?
Odds Ratio: 2.7
p-value: p=0.009
Short-term relaxation therapy significantly improves autonomic balance and reduces blood pressure and heart rate in young adults.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
May improve autonomic function in stressed students; hypothesis-generating and requires larger trials before any clinical adoption.
Pal et al. (2013) conducted a case-control in Healthy young adults (medical students) (n=67). Relaxation therapy (shavasana with soothing background music) vs. No relaxation techniques was evaluated on Prediction of low-frequency to high-frequency ratio (LF-HF) of HRV to blood pressure status (OR 2.7, p=0.009). Six weeks of daily relaxation therapy significantly reduced heart rate (P=0.0001) and systolic blood pressure (P=0.0010), and linked sympathovagal balance to BP status (OR 2.7; P=0.009).
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