Effect of Relaxation Therapy in Reducing Blood Pressure of Essential Hypertension Patients

Original Articles

Effect of Relaxation Therapy in Reducing Blood Pressure of Essential Hypertension Patients

Published in: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Volume 19 , issue 3 , 2009 , pages: 401–403
DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2009.10820308
Author(s): Michael Onyeka Ezenwa Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of relaxation therapy on arterial blood pressure of Patients with essential hypertension. Ten known essential hypertension patients (males = 3; females = 7, age range 41–70, mean age 57.2 years, SD = 9.93 years) were sampled randomly from Medical outpatient department of the State owned University teaching Hospital in Ebonyi State South East, Nigeria. These Participants were exposed to 30 minutes relaxation therapy and their blood pressures were taken before and after the treatment. Using matched t test to compare baseline and post treatment scores, result showed that relaxation therapy progressively decreased both diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings of the Participants. The study concluded that Relaxation therapy can transiently lower the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

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