Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Management of acute coronary syndrome wikipedia , lookup
Heart failure wikipedia , lookup
Cardiovascular disease wikipedia , lookup
Coronary artery disease wikipedia , lookup
Electrocardiography wikipedia , lookup
Myocardial infarction wikipedia , lookup
Cardiac surgery wikipedia , lookup
Heart arrhythmia wikipedia , lookup
Antihypertensive drug wikipedia , lookup
Quantium Medical Cardiac Output wikipedia , lookup
Dextro-Transposition of the great arteries wikipedia , lookup
Assessment of Heart Rates and Blood Pressure in Different Salat Positions J. Phys. Ther. Sci. 25: 211–214, 2013 Hazem Doufesh, MSc, BEng1), Fatimah Ibrahim, PhD, MScE, BScEE1), Noor Azina Ismail, PhD, MStats, BSC2), Wan Azman Wan Ahmad, MRCP, MBBS3) 1)Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-electro-Mechanical Systems (MIMEMS) Specialized Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya: 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: [email protected] 2)Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya 3)Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Abstract. [Purpose] This study reports the effects of the Muslim prayer, known as Salat, on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) while performing and miming the actions of Salat: standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. [Subjects] Thirty Muslim subjects were asked to perform the actual and mime Salat. [Methods] HR and BP were measured using a Schiller AT-102 Electrocardiograph and an Omron SEM-1 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor. [Results] The findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the HR of the subjects between performing and miming Salat. The standing and prostration positions of Salat produced the highest and the lowest HR, respectively. A lower HR may be of potential benefit to an individual’s health. The systolic and the diastolic BP decreased significantly after performance and mime of Salat, and a greater reduction in BP was observed during performance of Salat. [Conclusion] This is the first study of HR and BP in relation to Salat positions. The findings will encourage further studies to explore the benefits of Salat maneuvers for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Key words: Salat positions, Blood pressure, Heart rate (This article was submitted Sep. 14, 2012, and was accepted Oct. 19, 2012) INTRODUCTION Salat is a Muslim prayer, it is a form of meditation1), and it is obligatory in Islam to pray and to show one’s respect and worship the Almighty. It is a religious activity that involves recitations and specific positions: standing (qiyam), bowing (rukuk), prostration (sujud), and sitting (tahiyyat). Muslims are required to perform Salat five times daily in addition to voluntary prayers (Sunnah, Nafla) Salat begins with the takbir, raising one’s hands to face level, and ends with the salam, turning the head to the right then to the left shoulder2). Salat serves many purposes. For example, it teaches the Muslims how to discipline themselves, by practicing good time management, and complying with the assigned time for the prayers. Meditation is known to influence physiological parameters such as heart rate3), blood pressure and respiration rate4). Therefore meditation can be used as a therapy for patients who have heart problems such as hypertension or problems with their musculoskeletal system5). Heart rate (HR) is an indicator of cardiac function and a parameter of the heart’s performance. It can be observed non-invasively using an ECG (electrocardiogram). HR is the number of heartbeats per unit of time, typically expressed as beats per minute (bpm). It is the response of the heart to the demands of the body in many situations and positions6). HR changes due to many factors such as biological and physiological responses (sympathetic, parasympathetic and endocrine)6–8), physical activities (exercises), behavioral and psychosocial factors9), environment (temperature and altitude)6), body positions and postures10), and others (medication, drugs, chemical substances and diseases). All the factors that are mentioned above also affect blood pressure11). Blood pressure (BP) is one of the important physiological parameters to be considered in assessing a patients’ health status. BP is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels as blood flows through the body. This pressure is generated by the heart pumping blood around the body and by the resistance of the arteries to the flow of blood12). Studies have provided strong evidence that meditation may help decrease BP of the persons who are moderately hypertensive13–15). Many studies have also revealed that this positive effect disappears when meditation is discontinued16, 17). There are many studies that describe the correlation between meditation and its body positions or physical activities and their effects on HR, BP, and other hemodynamic parameters10, 18–22). For example23), a previous study compared three styles of yoga asana practice: the yoga posture, breathing exercises, and relaxation or resting posture. Some studies have reported that the heart rate decreases during meditation and while performing other 212 J. Phys. Ther. Sci. Vol. 25, No. 2, 2013 Fig. 1. Description and illustration of Salat positions during HR measurement meditation techniques24, 25). Nonetheless, long time practitioners of meditation have been shown to have a marked decrease in heart rate25, 26). While changes in HR in relation to Salat positions have been reported27), the changes of HR and BP during performance of Salat relative to its positions have not been studied. Understanding these changes would help enhance the understanding of the dynamic response of the cardiovascular system during Salat. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the changes in HR and BP during and after performance of actual and acting Salat, and to reveal the effect of Salat on the human body. We also investigated at the effect of HR and BP during prayer recitations while performing the Salat. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty male Muslim volunteers between the ages of 20 and 30 years old were recruited for this study. All of them were free from cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic and other diseases. These subjects had a decent knowledge of Salat, including the various positions and movements. They were asked not to perform any strenuous physical activity or take any meal for at least two hours prior to the experiment. Electrocardiography (ECG) data were recorded by three electrodes that were attached to a subjects’ chests in the standard Lead II configuration10) and connected to a Schiller AT-102 electrocardiograph. BP was measured using an Omron SEM-1 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor. The experimental protocol was divided into two sections, the actual performance and the mime action of Salat. Each session commenced and ended with the subjects lying on a bed to rest in the supine position for 5 minutes before their HR and BP were recorded. In the first session, the subjects performed Salat in two cycles. The first cycle began with standing (qiyam) for 60–90 seconds, then the bowing (rukuk) at 90-degrees for 5–10 seconds; it is obligatory to bend at the waist until the palms can reach the knees. The subjects then stood up from this bowing position to standing for 2–5 seconds, before going down on their knees, and placing the forehead on the floor about 1–2 feet in front of the knees in prostration (sujud) for approximately5–10 seconds. After that, they sat up from the prostration position for 2–5 seconds, then performed a second prostration from the sitting position. This prostration is similar to the first prostration, and is followed by standing Table 1 . Mean ± SD of the heart rate of actual and mimed Salat Pair Position 1 2 3 4 Standing Bowing Prostrating Sitting Mean ± SD Heart Rate (bpm) Actual Salat Mimed Salat 85 ± 8 80 ± 7 69 ± 6 74 ± 5 82 ± 5* 78 ± 5* 67 ± 4* 71 ± 4* * Significant difference (p<0.05) from actual Salat up for the second cycle. The only difference between the first and the second cycle exists after the second prostration in the second cycle, when the subjects remain in the sitting position (tahiyyat) for 20–30 seconds to finish Salat. A subject must recite Quranic verses or specific supplications during each of Salat positions. In the second session (miming Salat), the subjects were asked to perform the four different Salat positions in the proper sequence (standing, bowing, prostration, and sitting), without reciting any Quranic verses or supplications. This sequence was repeated in two cycles of 15 s. The Salat positions during the measurement are illustrated in detail in Figure 1. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 15 (SPSS Inc. USA). The Paired t-test was used to compare thepre and post-experimental measurements. A probability value of less than 5% was accepted as significant. RESULTS Table 1 shows a comparison between the positions of actual and mimed Salat . The results of the actual and mimed Salat reveal that the prostrate positions had recorded the lowest HR, while the standing positions had the highest HR. This shows that HR of the prostration position lower than that of the supine position. The Paired t-test indicates that there were significant differences in the means of HR between actual and mimed Salat for all positions (p<0.05). The paired t-test, also indicates that there were significant differences (p< 0.05) in HR between the supine and standing, the supine and bowing, the supine and prostrating, and between the supine and sitting positions in both the actual and mimed Salat positions. Table 2, shows the systolic and the diastolic blood 213 Table 2. Mean ± SD of blood pressure before and after actual and mimed Salat Systolic Actual salat Mimed salat Before After 118.0 ± 5.6 119.3 ± 4.9 115.0 ± 4.7* 117.1 ± 4.2* Diastolic Before After 72.2 ± 5.2 73.3 ± 3.8 70.2 ± 4.0* 72.1 ± 3.2* * Significant difference (p<0.05) from the mean value obtained before Salat, unit-mmHg pressures of both the actual and mimed Salat practice. The average systolic and diastolic blood pressures in actual Salat were lower than their respective values in mimed Salat: systolic BP was reduced by 2.5% after actual Salat and by 1.7% after the mimed Salat; diastolic BP was reduced by 2.8% after actual Salat and by 1.6% after mimed Salat. DISCUSSION In this study, HR was measured during actual and mimed Salat. However, BP was measured immediately before and 5 minutes after performance of both actual and mimed Salat. We note that in both performance of actual and mimed Salat, the change of heart rate was associated with postural change. The results of this study show that when the subjects stood, the highest HR was recorded and that HR decreased to the lowest rate in the prostrate position compared to the supine baseline, the results show that the mean HR in the standing, bowing, and sitting positions increased significantly, while HR in the prostrate position reduced significantly. We hypothesise that in the standing position, venous return decreased due to “venous pooling” in the lower limbs arising from the gravitational effects28). This decrease in venous return would have lead to a reduced cardiac output, leading to a reduction in baroreceptor stimulation in the aorta and carotid arteries29). This reduction in baroreceptor response would have produced a decrease in parasympathetic nervous activity and an increase in sympathetic nervous activity30, 31), directly affecting the cardiovascular center, consequently increasing HR. Whereas, in the prostrate position, the venous return would have increased to the highest level. In this position the brain, and head, are lower than the heart, hence, for the first time, the blood would flow towards the brain with the maximum gravitational pull. In this position, due to an increase in the amount of blood reaching the head, the amount of oxygen in the brain cells would have increased32). The brain depends on oxygen to function, and brain cells die without oxygen. High blood oxygen in the brain leads to enhances concentration, memory, vision and hearing33). This is the reason why people who practice Salat on a regular basis can overcome many physical and mental problems. They have fewer headaches, psychological problems, and other cognitive difficulties32). Our findings are in accord with Ibrahim and Ahmad 2008 and Jones et al. 2003 who have reported a decrease in heart rate, with decrease in the distance of the heart from the ground and the position of the head relative to the heart27, 38). The difference in the results between the actual and mimed Salat in all the positions were statistically significant at the 5% level (Table 1). The actual Salat positions often had higher HR than the corresponding mimed Salat positions. As indicated in the introduction, Salat is a worshipping procedure involving movements and recitations. In this study subjects recited verses from the Holy Quran during actual Salat, but not during mimed Salat. Various muscles and joints of the body are exercised byrecitation. There is also a need to increase the blood flow to the face, tongue, the sensory and motor areas of the mouth, and the upper pre-motor cortex of the brain during recitation. Thus, heart rate would have increased during creative speech, but once the recitation had finished, the pulse rate would have slowly returned to its resting heart rate (set point). The set point is established and modulated by lifestyle and the physiological processes of the internal organs over the years20). A temporal increase of the load on the heart during actual Salat, if practiced is daily over a long period, would decrease the set point level and strengthen the heart muscles, as well as improve the blood circulation within the heart muscles20). A similar effect was achieved by miming Salat, but it was not as great as actual Salat, and subjects performing actual Salat had a higher HR. This result is in agreement with the findings of Cacippo39). BP before and after actual and mimed Salat were also measured (Table 2). The results of the paired sample t-test indicate that there was a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic BP fter actual and mimed Salat. These significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures indicate a trend of gradual shift in autonomic equilibrium toward relative parasympathodominance due to a reduction in sympathetic activity34). Salat as a physical exercise is quite similar to the tai chi and yoga. It involves the movement of the whole body. Recent studies of yoga35) show that a decrease in the systolic pressure is observed when an individual performs yogic relaxation and meditation. Our study showed that Salat decreased systolic BP. This reduces the sympathetic discharge resulting in and predominance of the parasympathetic system14). Salat is a gentle exercise, which is regularly performed by Muslims. It is similar to other aerobic exercises such as tai chi and yoga, and as such may improve physical fitness. A study covering 17,000 Harvard alumni who entered college from 1916 to 1950 provides strong evidence that moderate aerobic exercise is equivalent to jogging about 3 miles a day36). Ibrahim et al. 200837) suggests that subjects who perform Salat regularly, five times a day, would have a healthy body composition, increase the basal metabolic rate and reduced body fat mass. Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It has been shown that people in professions where physical exertion is required, 214 J. Phys. Ther. Sci. Vol. 25, No. 2, 2013 have lower cholesterol in their bodies37). In conclusion we found that Salat maneuvers are equivalent to moderate exercise in terms of their physical exercise value. Salat also contributed towards increased in the cardiovascular system capability. The low value of HR in the prostrating position decreased systolic BP in both actual and mimed Salat. Salat, in this sense, can be used as a therapy for patients who have heart problems such as hypertension or problems in the musculoskeltal system. HR in actual Salat was slightly higher than in mimed Salat, due to its recitation activity, providing good additional physiological benefits for the body. This pilot study will thus motivate further studies to discover the benefits of Salat on human health. Future work, can be enhanced by taking into consideration other parameters such as the electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and respiration rate (RSP) in correlation to HR and BP. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported and funded by the Prime Minister’s Department, project no (66–02-03–0061/H00000–37039). REFERENCES 1) Alwasiti HH, Aris I, Jantan A: EEG activity in Muslim prayer: a pilot study. Maejo Int J Sci Technol, 2010, 4: 496–511. 2) Yucel S: The effects of prayer on Muslim patients’ well-being [microform]; Phd thesis. Boston: Boston University School of Theology, 2007, pp 9–16. 3) Sarang P, Telles S: Effects of two yoga based relaxation techniques on heart rate variability (HRV). Int J Stress Manag, 2006, 13: 460–475. [CrossRef] 4) Lee MS, Kim BG, Huh HJ, et al.: Effect of Qi-training on blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate. Clin Physiol, 2000, 20: 173–176. [Medline] [CrossRef] 5) Reza MF, Urakami Y, Mano Y: Evaluation of a new physical exercise taken from salat (prayer) as a short-duration and frequent physical activity in the rehabilitation of geriatric and disabled patients. Ann Saudi Med, 2002, 22: 177–180. [Medline] 6) Wilmore JH, Costill DL: Physiology of Sport and Exercise; 3rd ed. Human Kinetics Publishers, 2004, pp 224–225. 7) Glick G, Braunwald E: Relative roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in the reflex control of heart rate. Circ Res, 1965, 16: 363–375. [Medline] [CrossRef] 8) Ogoh S, Fisher JP, Dawson EA, et al.: Autonomic nervous system influence on arterial baroreflex control of heart rate during exercise in humans. J Physiol, 2005, 566: 599–611. [Medline] [CrossRef] 9) Britton A, Shipley M, Malik M, et al.: Changes in heart rate and heart rate variability over time in middle-aged men and women in the general population (from the Whitehall II cohort study). Am J Cardiol, 2007, 100: 524–527. [Medline] [CrossRef] 10) Watanabe N, Reece J, Polus BI: Effects of body position on autonomic regulation of cardiovascular function in young, healthy adults. Chiropr Osteopat, 2007, 15: 19. 11) Hassan MK, Mashor MY, Mohd Nasir NF, et al.: Measuring of systolic blood pressure based on heart rate, 4th Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, 2008, pp 595–598. 12) Mahmood NH, Jalaludin SN, Zakaria NA, et al.: In relationship study of heart rate and systolic blood pressure for healthy people, 6th World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB 2010) CT Lim and Goh JCH) Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010, pp. 1358–1361. 13) Wallace RK, Silver J, Mills PJ, et al.: Systolic blood pressure and long-term practice of the transcendental meditation and TM-sidhi program: effects of TM on systolic blood pressure. Psychosom Med, 1983, 45: 41–46. [Medline] 14) Patel CH: Yoga and biofeedback in the management of hypertension. Lancet, 1973, 2: 1053–1055. [Medline] [CrossRef] 15) Benson H, Rosner BA, Marzetta BR, et al.: Decreased blood pressure in borderline hypertensive subjects who practiced meditation. J Chronic Dis, 1974, 27: 163–169. [Medline] [CrossRef] 16) McGrady A: Effects of group relaxation training and thermal biofeedback on blood pressure and related physiological and psychological variables in essential hypertension. Biofeedback Self Regul, 1994, 19: 51–66. [Medline] 17) Patel C: 12-month follow-up of yoga and bio-feedback in the management of hypertension. Lancet, 1975, 1: 62–64. [Medline] [CrossRef] 18) Kanani M, Elliott M: Applied surgical physiological vivas- a change in posture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004, 0521683203: 1–8. 19) Acharya R, Kannathal N, Sing OW, et al.: Heart rate analysis in normal subjects of various age groups. BioMedical Eng Onlin, 2004, 3: 24. [CrossRef] 20) Stanley G, Verotta D, Craft N, et al.: Age effects on interrelationships between lung volume and heart rate during standing. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 1997, 273: 2128–2134. 21) Zhang J: Effect of age and sex on heart rate variability in healthy subjects. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 2007, 30: 374–379. [Medline] [CrossRef] 22) Zhang J: Effects of exercise and custom-made orthotics on blood pressure and heart rate variability: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Chiropr Med, 2007, 6: 56–65. [Medline] [CrossRef] 23) Cowen VS, Adams TB: Heart rate in yoga asana practice: a comparison of styles. J Bodyw Mov Ther, 2007, 11: 91–95. [CrossRef] 24) Wenger MA, Bagchi BK: Studies of autonomic functions in practitioners of yoga in India. Behav Sci, 1961, 6: 312–323. [Medline] [CrossRef] 25) Delmonte MM: Electrocortical activity and related phenomena associated with meditation practice: a literature review. Int J Neurosci, 1984b, 24: 217–231. [Medline] [CrossRef] 26) Jevning R, Wallace RK, Beidebach M: The physiology of meditation: a review. A wakeful hypometabolic integrated response. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 1992, 16: 415–424. [Medline] [CrossRef] 27) Ibrahim F, Ahmad W: Study of heart rate changes in different Salat’s positions, 4th Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Biomedical Engineering Biomed. 2008, pp 687–690. 28) Borst C, Wieling W, van Brederode JF, et al.: Mechanisms of initial heart rate response to postural change. Am J Physiol, 1982, 243: H676–H681. [Medline] 29) Mohrman DE, Heller LJ: Cardiovascular Physiology; 4th ed, New York: McGraw-Hill Health Professions Division, 1997. 30) Ewing DJ, Hume L, Campbell IW, et al.: Autonomic mechanisms in the initial heart rate response to standing. J Appl Physiol, 1980, 49: 809–814. [Medline] 31) Shamsuzzaman AS, Sugiyama Y, Kamiya A, et al.: Head-up suspension in humans: effects on sympathetic vasomotor activity and cardiovascular responses. J Appl Physiol, 1998, 84: 1513–1519. [Medline] 32) Beebani MK: The medical benefits of sujood. The muslim world weekly 2000. http://www.reciteislam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=456&Itemid=110 (Accessed Jul. 7, 2000). 33) John J, Ratey EH: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain; 1st ed. New York: Little Brown and Company, 2008. 34) Harinath K, Malhotra AS, Pal K, et al.: Effects of Hatha yoga and Omkar meditation on cardiorespiratory performance, psychologic profile, and melatonin secretion. J Altern Complement Med, 2004, 10: 261–268. [Medline] [CrossRef] 35) Herur A, Kolagi S, Chinagudi S: Effect of yoga on cardiovascular and mental status in normal subjects above 30 years of age. Am J Med Sci, 2010, 3: 337–344. 36) Syed I: The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers. http://www.radianceweekly.com/217/5912/kashmir-restore-peace-through-autonomy/2010–08-15/traweeh/story-detail/the-medical-benefits-of-taraweehprayers.html (Accessed Aug.16, 2010). 37) Ibrahim F, Abas WA, Cheok NS: Salat: benefit from the science perspective; Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya, 2008, pp 24–25. 38) Jones A Y, Kam C, Lai K W, et al.: Changes in heart rate and r-wave amplitude with posture. Chin J Physiol, 2003, 46: 63–69. [Medline] 39) Cacioppo JT: Effects of exogenous changes in heart rate on facilitation of thought and resistance to persuasion. J Pers Soc Psychol, 1979, 37: 489–498. [Medline] [CrossRef]