Audio relaxation combats hypertension

Regularly listening to a calming voice and the sound of ocean waves lapping against the shore can help to lower blood pressure, new research has shown.

Jean Tang, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at Seattle University, and colleagues studied the effects of a relaxation CD on 41 elderly men and women with hypertension. 20 participants were asked to listen to the 12-minute-long relaxation CD, whilst the remaining 21 participants were asked to listen to a 12-minute-long CD of a Mozart sonata. Both groups were asked to listen to their CD three times a week for four months.

Results showed that blood pressure dropped by an average 6.4% in those listening to the relaxation CD, compared with nearly 5% in those who listened to the Mozart CD. The reduction in systolic blood pressure was statistically significant in both groups; however the reduction in diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant in either group.

"A 3-5% change has been used as the cutting point in clinical research. It has been suggested that a 5 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure would result in a 9% reduction in coronary heart disease related death and 14% reduction in stroke related death," Tang said in a news release issued by the American Heart Association. “Higher systolic blood pressure is very prevalent in the elderly population. This program may provide yet another way to help manage hypertension in conjunction with medication, lifestyle changes, exercise, diet and stress management.”

Study presented at the American Heart Association's 62nd Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

News release: Audio relaxation program may help lower blood pressure in elderly. American Heart Association website. September 17th 2008.