BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF LAUGHTER THERAPY ON BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE SENIOR CITIZENS IN UTTARAKHAND, NORTH INDIA

Abstract

Background: Hypertension or high blood pressure is the major public health challenge across the globe and is the major reason behind heart disease and stroke. It affects an estimated 1 billion individuals globally. The current research aims to study the efficacy of a blood pressure laughter therapy programme among hypertensive seniors in selected old age shelters in Dehradun(Uttarakhand).

Methods:For the purpose of investigation  an experimental one-group pre-test and  post-test was designed. The sample comprised of 60 hypertensive senior selected from  old age homes through sampling method. The hypertensive patients within the age group of  60->75 were taken into consideration. This research's conceptual structure was based on the model of the theory of “Callista Roy Adaptation”. In order to analyse the categorical data, illustrative and inferential statistics were used.

Results:  Patients who received the laughter therapy had a significant reduction in blood pressure. “The mean blood pressure was post-test at 144.52 and 126.80 mm Hg. The mean pre- and post-test blood pressure was 94.52 and 82.88 mm Hg. There was a statistically significant association between educational age, history of smoking, and post-test blood pressure level of p<0.05.” No statistically significant association was found about the clinical factors with regards to blood pressure.

Conclusion: The overall results of the research clearly demonstrated that the application of laughter therapy in elderly patients with hypertension was substantially successful in maintaining blood pressure.