A funny joke or listening to music may help lower your blood pressure, says a new study, maybe as much as losing weight or cutting salt from your diet.
The results were modest, but the reductions in blood pressure were associated with a 5% to 15% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
In the United States, one out of three people have high blood pressure, and one in five people have undiagnosed blood pressure; according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Presented on Friday at the American Heart Association meeting in Atlanta, Japanese researchers reported that people who attended bimonthly group sessions involving music and laughter lowered their systolic blood pressure by an average of five to six points at the end of three months. The people involved in the study where 90 men and women, ages 40 to 74.
A control group, who did not receive music or laughter therapy, had no change in either blood pressure reading. Systolic blood pressure is the top number. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number.
Experts compared the effects on blood pressure on someone consuming less salt, taking blood pressure medication, or losing ten pounds. But music and laughter is not enough to treat blood pressure.
Previous research has shown that upbeat music improved the inner lining of blood vessels, allowing them to expand by 30%. Also, the release of nitric oxide may help lower blood pressure. Nitric oxide (nitrogen monoxide) is a signaling molecule in the human body and other mammals.
Risk factors for high blood pressure include obesity, lack of exercise, family history, and over-consumption of salt (sodium).
Image credit: DavidDennisPhotos.com
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