TO STUDY AND EVALUATE THE LEVELS OF HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN INDIAN CLASSICAL SINGERS AND COMPARE THEM WITH THAT OF NON-SINGERS.

Dr. Shivali Barwal*

ABSTRACT

Background: An Observational Retrospective Cohort Study titled “To study the effects of Indian Classical Singing on pulmonary and cardiac parameters” was conducted in the department of Physiology, IGMC, Shimla. Singing has been associated with physiological effects, including changes in both the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. The cardiovascular parameters evaluated in this study are mainly Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Materials and Method: For the study group 45 trained Indian classical singers were selected from the degree colleges, private musical academies of Shimla and Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. In the control group 45 age and sex matched subjects were included from amongst healthy volunteers (from IGMC or Degree colleges). Heart rate levels were measured by using Ssmed pulse oximeter in the left index finger. The blood pressure was recorded by using a mercury sphygmomanometer. The data was evaluated statistically. Results: The difference in the mean heart rate levels of singers and the non-singers was highly significant.(p value <0.05). The mean value of HR in the singer group was 64.81(±8.98) bpm and the control non-singer group was 77.53(±5.77) bpm. The difference in the mean systolic BP and mean diastolic BP levels of singers and the non-singers was not significant. Conclusions: Significant decrease in the heart rate levels is seen after regular practice of singing especially the Indian classical singing in the present study. The blood pressure levels remain more towards the normal.

Keywords: heart rate, blood pressure, homeostasis, parasympathetic dominance.