Effects of relaxing music on cardiac autonomic balance and anxiety after acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction places additional demands on an already compromised myocardium. Relaxing music can induce a relaxation response, thereby reversing the deleterious effects of the stress response. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of relaxing music; quiet, uninterrupted rest; and "treatment as usual" on anxiety levels and physiological indicators of cardiac autonomic function. METHODS: A 3-group repeated measures experimental design was used. Forty-five patients, 15 per group, with acute myocardial infarction were assigned randomly to 20 minutes of (1) music in a quiet, restful environment (experimental group); (2) quiet, restful environment without music (attention); or (3) treatment as usual (control). Anxiety levels and physiological indicators were measured. RESULTS: Immediately after the intervention, reductions in heart rate, respiratory rate, and myocardial oxygen demand were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group. The reductions in heart rate and respiratory rate remained significantly greater 1 hour later. Changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and myocardial oxygen demand in the attention group did not differ significantly from changes in the other 2 groups. The 3 groups did not differ with respect to systolic blood pressure. Increases in high-frequency heart rate variability were significantly greater in the experimental and attention groups than in the control group immediately after the intervention. State anxiety was reduced in the experimental group only; the reduction was significant immediately and 1 hour after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction may benefit from music therapy in a quiet, restful environment.

State and trait anxiety levels before coronary angiography

“…There are some other interventions aimed at reducing anxiety (McCaffrey & Taylor 2005). These interventions include behaviour therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, music therapy, sensory information, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback, humour and story telling (Buttler et al 1991, Cason et al 1992, Barnason et al 1995, White 1999. Research on the effectiveness of these interventions before cardiac catheterization is limited.…”

Impact of Self-Hypnosis in Women on Select Physiologic and Psychological Parameters

“…Increased HRV provides evidence of greater PSNS activity and the physiologic response of relaxation. Classic works have documented the impact of several alternative therapies on HRV, such as relaxation training (Sakakibara, Takeuchi, & Hayano, 1994), music therapy (White, 1999), and biofeedback (Cowan, Kogan, Burr, Hendershot, & Buchanan, 1990;Hatch, Borcherding, & Norris, 1990). More recently, Lombardi (2002) acknowledged that HRV is incompletely understood, but he supported the use of HRV as a noninvasive method of evaluating ANS changes that may have clinical utility and therapeutic implications.…”

“…Power spectral analysis can be explored over speci¢c time periods allowing for detailed interpretation about HRV before, during, and following an intervention. In particular, power of the LF and HF HRV bands can be examined as physiologic measures of relaxation (White, 1999;White & Porth, 2000), as shown in Figure 1.…”

Yoga Relaxation (savasana) decreases cardiac sympathovagal balance in hypertensive patients

“…12 Studies investigating heart rate variability after relaxation showed a parasympathetic predominance in healthy adults 13 and in post cardiac arrest patients. 14 Savasana is an important part of Hatha Yoga relaxation practice. To our knowledge, there is no study addressing the influences of savasana on sympathovagal balance of hypertensive subjects.…”